Highest individual T20 score in women’s cricket: Argentina's Lucia Taylor tops list

Twenty20 or T20 is the shortest format of the game in cricket. Yet, it is also the format that produces the most entertainment due to its unpredictable nature.

The format, due to its appeal, has helped women’s cricket grow by leaps and bounds in the last few years. After making its debut at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham, women’s T20 cricket also featured at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, the People's Republic of China, accorded with an international status.

With only 120 legitimate deliveries to play per team, batters in T20 cricket are always looking to clear the boundaries, often piling up massive individual scores.

Argentina batter Lucia Taylor holds the record for the highest individual score in women’s T20 cricket courtesy her 169 off just 84 balls against Chile Women in a bilateral series match in Buenos Aires on October 13, 2023.

Deepika Rasangika, a former Sri Lankan cricketer who now plays for Bahrain, held the record before Taylor with an unbeaten 161 vs UAE. She was the first batter to score 150 runs in one inning in women’s T20 internationals.

Harmanpreet Kaur holds the record for the highest score by an Indian player in women’s T20 cricket with 103 off just 51 deliveries. Her innings was studded with seven fours and eight sixes, against New Zealand in Providence, West Indies in November 2018.

Highest individual T20 score in women’s cricket

Lucia Taylor (Argentina) - 169 against Chile

Lucia Taylor hammered 27 fours to cruise to 169 off just 84 balls against Chile in Buenos Aires on October 13, 2023. The record innings helped Argentina put on 427/1 in their 20 overs - the highest score by any team in women’s T20 cricket. The knock came in the first T20I of a three-match T20I bilateral series.

Deepika Rasangika (Bahrain) - 161* against Saudi Arabia

Coming in one down for Bahrain against Saudi Arabia in the GCC Women's Twenty20 Championship Cup 2021-22 in Oman, Deepika Rasangika hammered a brisk 161 not out, laced with 31 fours, off just 66 balls. Interestingly, she did not hit a single six in her innings. Bahrain won the match by 269 runs after restricting Saudi Arabia to 49/8 in 20 overs.

Esha Oza (UAE) - 158* against Bahrain

Barely days after Deepika Rasangika scored 161 not out for Bahrain against Saudi Arabia, UAE’s Esha Oza threatened to break the record against Bahrain with an unbeaten 158. She hit 22 fours and six sixes off 71 deliveries. Esha Oza’s knock helped UAE to 253/1 in 20 overs before Bahrain were bowled out on 43.

Maria Castineiras (Argentina) - 155* against Chile

Just a couple of days after Lucia Taylor's record-breaking knock, her reammate Maria Castineiras came mighty close to toppling the mark. In the second T20I vs Chile, Castineiras hit 155 not out in just 77 deliveries but ran out of time. Argentina posted 333/1 in the match before bundling the visitors out for just 22.

Alyssa Healy (Australia) - 148* against Sri Lanka

Alyssa Healy, one of Australia’s finest batters, comes in next on the list of highest individual scorers in women’s T20 cricket. The wicketkeeper-batter opened the innings for Australia and plundered the Sri Lankan bowling to score an unbeaten 148 in 61 balls in the last of the three-match series in 2019. Her innings in Sydney included 19 fours and seven sixes and helped Australia defeat Sri Lanka by 132 runs.

Albertina Galan (Argentina) - 145* against Chile

Albertina Galan was Lucia Taylor's partner in crime during her record-breaking innings on October 13. While Taylor struck 169 in 84 balls, Galan stayed unbeaten on 145 after playing the same number of deliveries.

Laura Agatha (Brazil) - 144* against Mexico

A blitzy unbeaten 144 off just 71 deliveries by opener Laura Agatha powered Brazil to a team record score of 273/1 against Mexico in the South American Women's Championships 2024. In response, Mexico were all out for just 39. Agatha hit 11 fours and as many sixes in her innings.

Rebecca Blake (Romania) - 135* against Malta

Captain of the Romanian cricket team, Rebecca Blake opened the batting against Malta in the Women's Continental Cup 2023 and stayed on the crease for full 20 overs. She made her century in 53 balls and was the only player from her team to even reach a double-digit score. Her blazing innings of 135 not-out consisted of 24 fours. Romania racked up 197/4 and eventually beat Malta by 35 runs.

Meg Lanning (Australia) - 133* against England

After losing Alyssa Healy early, Australia were in a spot of bother against hosts England in the first match of the T20 series in 2019. Captain Meg Lanning, however, rescued Australia with an unbeaten 133 in 63 balls. Her innings included 17 fours and seven sixes. Australia finished with 226/3 in their allotted 20 overs and beat England by 93 runs.Hayley Matthews

Hayley Matthews (West Indies) - 132 against Australia

Chasing 212 against the hosts at Sydney in the second T20I of their tour to Australia, West Indies women rode a century by captain Hayley Matthews to cruise to a seven-wicket victory. Matthews' 132 of 64 balls was highlighted by 20 fours and five sixes.