Super fast: Devine in record 108 in 38 balls
Blaze of glory: Out of managed isolation and making history in quick-fire return
Sophie Devine smashed a record-setting 108 from 38 balls as the Wellington Blaze thrashed the Otago Sparks in the Twenty20 Super Smash. The White Ferns captain, returning to the side on Sunday from a 14-day managed isolation, notched her century yesterday off just 36 balls, the fastest hundred in women’s Twenty20 history, beating Deandra Dottin’s 38-ball ton for the West Indies against South Africa in 2010.
Devine’s knock was the fastest T20 century in New Zealand, beating Tim Seifert’s 40-ball effort for Northern Districts in Mt Maunganui in 2017.
It’s also the third-fastest Twenty20 century by a New Zealander, behind Martin Guptill’s blistering 35-ball ton for Worcestershire against Northamptonshire in 2018 and Scott Styris’ 37-ball century in 2012 for Sussex against Gloucestershire.
Devine led the Blaze to a dominant 10-wicket victory in just 8.4 overs at the University Oval, after the Sparks made 128-7 when winning the toss and choosing to bat.
Devine said she felt nervous coming back after 14 days in isolation.
“I was really nervous. Whenever you have a bit of an extended break away from the game, you get nervous about [whether] you can come back into it. So it was just [nice] to spend some time in the middle and get a few out of the screws.
“It was just about playing smart cricket — to know where my gaps were, trying to manipulate the field ... I felt I knew where they were trying to bowl so if I could manipulate myself around the crease, I could open up areas of the field, so, yeah, I’m pleased with the way it went.
“Sometimes I can get a little bit carried away . . . and I get a bit over eager and play some rash shots so it was nice to stick to some decent cricket shots and finish the job.”
The win moves the Blaze ahead of the Auckland Hearts at the top of the Super Smash ladder.
It was unrealistic to ask anyone to follow in Devine’s footsteps in the men’s match between the same two provinces which followed, but young Wellington opener Finn Allen came close.
Allen blasted an unbeaten 92 from 43 balls as the Wellington Firebirds emulated the Blaze with a dominant chase, hunting down Otago’s 167-5 with a whopping five wickets and 21 balls to spare.
Allen’s career-best knock continues his incredible start to 2021, after the 21-year-old blasted 91 not
Whenever you have a bit of an extended break away from the game, you get nervous about [whether] you can come back into it. So it was just [nice] to spend some time in the middle.
Sophie Devine
out off 50 balls and 75 from 39 against Northern Districts to begin the new year.
Neil Broom (57 off 48) and Anaru Kitchen (57 not out from 32) gave Otago a total to defend in Dunedin, but once Allen tonked 28 off Michael Rae’s first — and only — over, there was only going to be one winner.
Like their female counterparts, the Firebirds top the table, with five wins from as many games to sit four points clear of the 4-2 Central Stags, while Otago drop to fourth with a 2-3 record.
Canterbury and Northern Districts meet in today’s double-header at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.