15-year-old Rwanda batter scripts history with Women's T20I century on debut

Rwanda's Fanny Utagushimaninde became the youngest T20I centurion at 15, scoring 111 on debut against Ghana. Her knock powered Rwanda to a commanding 122-run victory in the Nigeria Invitational Women's T20I Tournament.

Rwanda batter Fanny Utagushimaninde made history on Friday by becoming the youngest T20I centurion. She achieved the milestone against Ghana in the Nigeria Invitational Women’s T20I Tournament at Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval in Lagos.

At just 15 years and 223 days, Utagushimaninde broke the record previously held by Uganda’s Prosscovia Alako, who scored 116 against Mali in Kigali in 2019 at 16 years and 233 days. She smashed 111 off 65 balls, including 17 fours.

In men’s cricket, the youngest T20I centurion record is held by France’s Gustav McKeon, who scored a century against Switzerland in 2022 at 18 years and 280 days.

Utagushimaninde also became the first player in Women’s T20I history to score a century on debut, surpassing Karen Rolton’s record of 96 not out against England in Taunton in 2005 for the highest score on Women’s T20I debut.

In men’s T20Is, players such as Canada’s Matthews Spoors, Serbia’s Leslie Dunbar, Namibia’s JP Kotze, and Canada’s Ravinderpal Singh have scored centuries on debut, but none were from full-member nations.

On the back of Fanny Utagushimaninde’s century, Rwanda Women delivered a commanding performance to defeat Ghana Women by 122 runs.