Ayesha Zafar hits record century as Pakistan post highest Women’s T20I total

KARACHI: Pakistan top-order batter Ayesha Zafar produced a record-setting unbeaten century against Zimbabwe in the first Women’s T20I at the National Bank Stadium on Tuesday, helping the home side register their highest total in the format.

Coming in to bat at number three with Pakistan on 23/1 after 1.5 overs, Ayesha attacked the Zimbabwe bowling from the outset and remained unbeaten through the innings. She reached her maiden Women’s T20I hundred on the final ball of the innings, striking Nomvelo Sibanda for four towards the mid-wicket region.

Ayesha finished on 102 not out from 47 deliveries, an innings that included 15 fours and two sixes. Her knock powered Pakistan to 237/5, which became the team’s highest total in Women’s T20Is. The previous best had been 181/4 against South Africa in 2024.

Multiple milestones for Ayesha

With the innings, Ayesha became only the second Pakistan batter to score a century in Women’s T20 internationals. She joined teammate Muneeba Ali, who has recorded the feat twice.

Her unbeaten 102 also matched the highest individual score by a Pakistani batter in Women’s T20Is, drawing level with Muneeba’s mark in the format.

The century also set another national benchmark. Ayesha reached the three-figure mark in 47 balls, making it the fastest century by a Pakistan batter in Women’s T20Is. The previous record belonged to Muneeba Ali, who had taken 66 deliveries to bring up her maiden hundred during the T20 World Cup in 2023.

The innings stood out not only for its pace but also for the timing of the milestone, with Ayesha completing the century on the last delivery of Pakistan’s innings. Her aggressive strokeplay ensured Zimbabwe’s bowlers remained under pressure after she arrived at the crease early in the contest.

The performance added several entries to Pakistan’s Women’s T20I record books in a single outing, with both the team total and individual landmarks being rewritten in Karachi.

Ayesha’s knock came in the opening match of the series against Zimbabwe and gave Pakistan a commanding platform after she took charge from number three. Her innings featured sustained boundary-hitting and helped lift the scoring rate throughout the match.

Pakistan’s total of 237/5 surpassed their previous highest by a significant margin, underlining the scale of the batting effort led by Ayesha. The innings also placed her alongside Muneeba Ali in Pakistan’s short list of Women’s T20I centurions while allowing her to equal the highest individual score and set a new mark for the fastest hundred by a Pakistani batter in the format.