5 interesting facts about Deandra Dottin - World's fastest T20I centurion

Women, be it in any sport, don’t always enjoy the spotlight as much as men do, and cricket is no exception, either. However, they have, at times, compelled people to take note of their sport with some interesting stories. You might’ve came across the name Deandra Dottin, a West Indian women’s international player. Here are 5 noteworthy facts about her. Stats updated till 23 June 2014

#1 Fastest international T20 century

The right-hander from Barbados shocked the world when she bettered the record for the fastest International hundred in Twenty-20 internationals, 4 years back.

In a 2010 Women’s World Cup Twenty20 match at Warner Park, St.Kitts, batting at No.6, she blasted a hundred off just 38 deliveries. Her second fifty came off just 13 balls.

She finished with 112* off 40 balls in the tournament opener against South Africa, getting past Chris Gayle, who, at that point of time, held the record for the fastest hundred – off 50 balls - in international T20s.

She was the first centurion in women’s T20s, and since then only 2 other women cricketers have scored tons in the shortest format. She also holds the record for the fastest 50 in T20s, which came off 22 balls against Australia at Taunton in 2009.

While the men’s record was bettered by the South African opener Richard Levi, when he got to his hundred off 45 balls against New Zealand in 2012, Dottin’s feat stills stands: it makes her the fastest T20 centurion in international cricket when the world has the likes of Gayle, David Warner and AB de Villiers playing the format.

#2 Medal winning athlete

Before making her way into cricket, Dottin has represented Barbados in the track and field games.

In 2005, at the age of 14, she won a silver medal in the women’s javelin throw at the CARIFTA (Carriben Free Trade Association) games in Under-17 category and got 6th place in the women’s shot put. She bettered her feat in 2006 by winning gold in the javelin throw and silver in the shot put.

She won gold in both the 2006 Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships (U-17), before replicating her feat in 2007 CARIFTA events. She won gold in the discuss throw event, too.

In 2008 U20 games, she managed to win gold in the javelin throw but failed to do so in other two events.

#3 Most runs for West Indies

Dottin is also the 2nd-highest run-scorer for West Indies in women’s ODIs. She has played in 71 ODIs, scoring 1553 runs and 11 half-centuries, putting her next only to Stafanie Taylor.

In T20 Internationals, she has scored 1267 runs with a century and seven 50+ scores for the Windies, second only to Taylor, again.

Dottin has a T20 career strike-rate of 131.96 from 65 innings, highest for any women cricketer who has batted for more than 3 innings.

#4 Not played a Test match

With the West Indies women’s side not having played a Test match since 2004, she is yet to take part in the longest format of the game. Interestingly, after 2007, only England and Australia are playing Test matches against each other.

#5 Most number of T20 appearances

The 23-year-old has played the most number of T20 internationals for the West Indies: 66. Only Charlotte Edwards of England has more international T20 caps.