Sophie Devine crashes fastest women's T20 century in Super Smash

The New Zealand international reached three figures in just 36 balls to beat the previous best - the 38 deliveries it took Deandra Dottin to get to her ton for West Indies against South Africa in 2010

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Sophie Devine claimed the world record for the fastest century in women's T20 cricket during Wellington Blaze's clash with Otage Sparks in the Super Smash.

The New Zealand international reached three figures in just 36 balls to beat the previous best - the 38 deliveries it took Deandra Dottin to get to her ton for West Indies against South Africa in 2010.

Devine crashed nine fours and nine sixes, reaching her century by clearing the ropes, and finished with 108 not out from 38 balls as Wellington chased down their 129-run target in just 8.4 overs.

Her hundred is the ninth fastest of all time in all cricket - Chris Gayle holds the record with his 30-ball effort for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in the 2013 Indian Premier League.

Devine last picked up a bat in anger seven weeks previously, for Perth Scorchers in the WBBL on November 25, and had only been out of managed isolation for four days following her return from Australia.

🧢 📸 A hat and a snap.

All class from @sophdevine77 post-match. She went and sat with the fan who was hit during her innings.

Reports say the kid is doing well 🏏#SuperSmashNZ #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/26SMPM5tU8

— WHITE FERNS (@WHITE_FERNS) January 14, 2021

The 31-year-old told Spark Sport: “Whenever you have an extended break away for the game, you get nervous about ‘Can you come back into it?’ so it was nice to spend some time in the middle and get a few out of the screws.

“For me 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, open up areas of the field so yeah, pleased with the way it went today

“I think sometimes I get a little bit carried away... I get a bit over-eager and play some rash shots, so it was nice to stick to some decent cricket shots today and finish the job.”

FASTEST T20 CENTURIES

30 balls - Chris Gayle (RCB v Pune Warriors, 2013)

32 balls - Rishabh Pant (Delhi v Himachal Pradesh, 2018)

33 balls - Wihan Lubbe (North West v Limpopo, 2018)

34 balls - Andrew Symonds (Kent v Middlesex, 2004), 

35 balls - Louis van der Westhuizen (Namibia v Kenya, 2011), David Miller (South Africa v Bangladesh, 2017), Martin Guptill (Worcestershire v Northamptonshire, 2018), Khushdil Shah (South Punjab v Sindh, 2020)

36 balls - Sophie Devine (Wellington Blaze v Otago Volts, 2021)

One of the best innings you will see.

Making her return from injury against the Otago Volts, Sophie Devine has clobbered a T20 century off just 36 balls!

Catch highlights and the full replay on demand #SupersmashNZ ⭕️🏏 pic.twitter.com/ColA5aezkf

— Spark Sport (@sparknzsport) January 14, 2021