Rwanda’s teenage cricket sensation Fanny Utagushimaninde has etched her name into the history books after becoming the youngest woman ever to score a century in a Twenty20 international match.
The 15-year-old achieved the milestone at just 15 years and 223 days, delivering a stunning unbeaten 111 off 65 balls on her debut, as Rwanda secured a dominant 122-run victory over Ghana women’s national cricket team in a tournament held in Lagos.
Utagushimaninde reached her century in just 59 balls during the 18th over, sealing the moment with a composed clip through mid-wicket off Ghana’s Elizabeth Annor.
Her remarkable feat surpasses the previous record set by Uganda’s Prosscovia Alako, who was 16 years and 233 days old when she scored a T20 century against Mali in 2019.
Speaking after her historic performance, Utagushimaninde described the moment as surreal.
“It was a special moment for me and my cricket journey. A dream to achieve it on my debut at 15,” she said, attributing her success to hard work, confidence, and unwavering passion for the sport.
Beyond setting the age record, her innings also stands as the highest score ever recorded by a woman on T20 international debut, eclipsing the previous best of 96 by Australia’s Karen Rolton in 2005.
Rwanda’s head coach Leonard Nhamburo praised the young batter’s dedication, describing her achievement as a reflection of years of sacrifice and the growing strength of grassroots cricket development in the country.
Utagushimaninde is a product of a schools development programme supported by the Marylebone Cricket Club Foundation, highlighting the impact of structured youth initiatives in nurturing emerging talent.
While France’s Gustav McKeon remains the youngest male player to score a T20 international century, Utagushimaninde’s record-setting debut marks a defining moment for women’s cricket in Africa — and signals the arrival of a promising new star on the global stage.
TNAM
Edited By Egwu Patience Nnennaya.
