Wyatt’s ton helps England crush India

Half centuries by openers Smriti Mandhana (76 off 40 balls) and Mithali Raj’s (53 off 43) balls helped the host post a mammoth 198 for four in 20 overs, India’s highest score in WT20Is. However, Wyatt’s heroics made the chase a walk in the park for the visitor as it romped home with eight balls to spare. 

The earlier highest chase in women’s T20 Internationals was also by England, which came against Australia, in Canberra in 2017. Wyatt (124 off 64 balls) made her intentions clear, hitting three fours in the first over. With a flurry of boundaries and sixes, she forged a 61-run opening-wicket stand with Bryony Smith (15).

Pacer Jhulan Goswami cleaned up Smith even as the visitor raced to 67/1 in the powerplay. 

But that did not deter Wyatt, the cynosure of all eyes at the Brabourne Stadium, as she brutally punished a listless Indian attack. The opener spared no bowlers — be it the pacers or spinners — as she completed her fifty in 24 balls and her hundred in 52 balls. 

This was Wyatt’s second T20I century and it was only befitting that she completed it with a boundary.