100 Days to go for ICC Women's World Cup 2017
The 11th edition of the ICC Women’s World Cup, to be held in England from June 24 to July 26, is now 100 days away. While Australia Women, England Women, New Zealand Women and West Indies Women earned automatic berth by finishing in the top half of the Women’s Championship table, India Women, South Africa Women, Sri Lanka Women and Pakistan Women made it through the Qualifiers.
The tournament has recorded many historic moments since it was first played in 1973, and 100s have had a major say.
Five away from 50
So far, 45 100s have been scored by 28 different players from six countries in ten editions of the tournament.
Thomas and Bakewell – the pioneers
Lynne Thomas scored the first century of the tournament in 1973 with 134 to help England beat an International Women’s XI in Hove. In the same game Enid Bakewell, Thomas' teammate, became the second player to make a hundred. She scored 101 not out.
Rachael Heyhoe Flint, who passed away recently, soon joined Bakewell and Thomas. Flint’s 114 was instrumental in England beating Young England Women by 49 runs.
England lead the list
Charlotte Edwards, who retired from international cricket last year, was the last England player to make a hundred in World Cup history. Her unbeaten 106 gave England a win over New Zealand in the third-place play-off in the last edition of the tournament in Mumbai in 2013.
England has recorded a total of 19 centuries – the most by any team in the World Cup, with Janette Brittin and Edwards making four each. No other batter has that many centuries in the history of the competition.
2013 – The batting year
With conditions favourable for batters in the subcontinent, the 2013 World Cup , which was played in Mumbai and Cuttack, recorded 11 centuries – the most in one edition.
1982 – a fallow year
Only two centuries were scored in the 1982 World Cup in New Zealand – the least in any edition.
World record holder
Belinda Clark’s unbeaten 229 – the only double-century in One-Day Internationals for a long time – for Australia in a 363-run win over Denmark Women in the 1997 World Cup in Mumbai is the highest individual score in Women’s cricket.
Consecutive centuries scored
Claire Taylor is the only player to have scored centuries in consecutive World Cups (2000, 2005 and 2009). Her last century came for England Women in a group match in Canberra during the 2009 World Cup when it beat Sri Lanka Women by 100 runs.
Suzie Bates could equal Taylor's record in the opening match of the 2017 World Cup between New Zealand Women and Sri Lanka Women in Bristol, having previously scored centuries in the 2009 and 2013 World Cups, the last coming in a seven-wicket defeat to Australia Women in Cuttack.
A second century beckons
The 2017 World Cup could see as many as seven players score their second centuries in the tournament, all on the first day of action: If in their respective XIs, Mithali Raj, MD Thirushkamini, Harmanpreet Kaur in Derby, Marizanne Kapp in Leicester, and Meg Lanning and Stafanie Taylor in Taunton could all be in the race.
Fastest 100 (from 1997 onwards)
Since balls faced by a batter has been recorded, Karen Rolton’s 107 not out in 57 balls is the fastest century in World Cups. She had made that score in Australia’s nine-wicket win over South Africa in the 2000 World Cup in New Zealand.
Slowest 100 (from 1997 onwards)
Lisa Keightley made 103 in 150 balls for Australia in a 97-run win over hosts South Africa in the 2005 World Cup.
Country-wise breakup of centuries
England – 19; New Zealand – 10; Australia – 10; India – 3; South Africa – 2; West Indies – 1.
The first from each country
England – Enid Bakewell (1973); New Zealand – Barb Bevege (1982); Australia – Lindsay Reeler (1988); South Africa – Linda Olivier (2000); India – MD Thirushkamini (2013); West Indies – Stafanie Taylor (2013).
Edition wise breakup of centuries
1973 – 4; 1982 – 2; 1988 – 5; 1993 – 5; 1997 – 6; 2000 – 6; 2005 – 3; 2009 – 3; 2013 – 11.