Rwanda batter Fanny Utagushimaninde becomes youngest women’s T20 centurion
Rwanda’s Fanny Utagushimaninde has become the youngest woman to score a Twenty20 international century after hitting an unbeaten 111 on her debut against Ghana in Lagos.
The 15-year-old opening batter reached the milestone off just 59 deliveries during the Nigeria Invitational Women’s T20 Tournament.
Her extraordinary 65-ball knock anchored a comprehensive 122-run victory over the West African side.
“It was a special moment for me and my cricket journey,” she told BBC Sport.
“A dream to achieve it on my debut at 15.”
Shattering international records
At 15 years and 223 days old, the teenager eclipsed the previous record held by Uganda’s Prosscovia Alako.
Alako was over a year older when she registered a hundred against Mali in June 2019.
The Rwandan prodigy also claimed the highest-ever score by a woman on her T20 debut.
That specific accolade previously belonged to Australia legend Karen Rolton, who struck 96 against England back in 2005.
A triumph for grassroots development
This historic achievement highlights the growing strength of the sport in East Africa.
The record-breaker originally discovered the game through a local schools programme supported by the Marylebone Cricket Club Foundation.
“This record-breaking performance is a testament of the hard work and dedication she did put in,” added national coach Leonard Nhamburo.
“It’s something that Fanny earned through years of sacrifice and a true testimony of how development cricket is coming through in Rwanda.”
For context, the men’s equivalent record is currently held by France’s Gustav Mckeon, who scored a century against Switzerland at the age of 18.
