Nat Sciver-Brunt Creates History with First Century in WPL

A historic moment unfolded in the Women’s Premier League as a long-standing batting milestone was finally breached. In a high-pressure league match, a standout individual performance rewrote tournament records and showcased the growing competitiveness of women’s franchise cricket in India.

Why in News?

Nat Sciver-Brunt became the first batter to score a century in Women’s Premier League history during WPL 2026, achieving the feat while playing for Mumbai Indians against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Vadodara.

Historic Knock in WPL 2026

• Playing Match 16 of WPL 2026, Nat Sciver-Brunt produced a landmark unbeaten 100 off 57 balls at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara.
• She walked in early after Mumbai Indians lost their first wicket at just 16 runs and steadied the innings with remarkable composure.
• Her innings included 16 fours and one six, combining consistency with controlled aggression.
• This knock finally pushed the WPL into the three-digit individual score territory after several near-misses in previous seasons.

Record-Breaking Partnership

• A key feature of the innings was the crucial 131-run partnership for the second wicket with Hayley Matthews, who scored 56 off 39 balls.
• The partnership not only rescued Mumbai Indians from an early setback but also laid the foundation for a commanding total.
• Their coordination against both pace and spin highlighted the tactical maturity seen in WPL 2026.

Breaking a Long-Standing WPL Record

• Before this innings, no batter had scored a century in WPL history.
• The previous highest individual scores were 99 not out by Georgi Voll and 99 by Sophie Devine.
• Despite over ten players crossing the 90-run mark across seasons, the elusive century had remained out of reach.
• Sciver-Brunt’s knock decisively ended that wait, setting a new benchmark for future editions of the league.

Key Summary at a Glance

Question

Q. Who became the first batter to score a century in Women’s Premier League history?

A. Sophie Devine
B. Smriti Mandhana
C. Nat Sciver-Brunt
D. Alyssa Healy