The 2023 year was a great year for women’s cricket. It saw the first edition of the Women’s Premier League in Mumbai. It saw the 8th edition of the ICC T20 World Cup 2023 take place in South Africa which was won by Australia.
It was a sensational year as the Women’s Ashes took place with both teams equal at 8-8 as the Australian team retained the Ashes after winning the lone test match gaining four points. It was a superb year for Women’s cricket with two Test matches happening as India defeated England and Australia in span of 11 days.
Here we look at the 5 best knocks in women’s cricket in 2023:
- Chamari Athapathu- 140* against NZ in ODI
The Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapathu showed her class with a sensational 140 not out against New Zealand on 3rd July 2023 at Galle International Ground, Galle.
Chasing a revised target of 196 in 31 overs, Chamari played with intent with 140 off 80 balls with 13 fours and 9 sixes helping the Sri Lankan women register 8 wicket victory. With this knock, Chamari was named the player of the match.
The knock looked impressive with some lovely shots keeping the White Ferns bowlers under pressure and registering an easy win. She was not picked in the 2023 Women’s Premier League auction.
- Hayley Mathews- 132 against Australia in T20I
The West Indies captain Hayley Mathews led from the front with match winning knock of 132. Chasing down 213 runs to win, Mathew showed her class as she displayed attacking cricket and did not allow the Australian bowlers to settle.
She smashed 20 fours and 5 sixes during his 132 off 64 deliveries. Mathews was dismissed in the 19th over which made life tough for West Indies batters. West Indies won the match by 7 wickets with 1 ball to spare.
Mathews was named the player of the match award for her 132 and picked 3 for 36 in her bowling effort.
- Tammy Beaumont- 208 against Australia in Test matches
The right-handed opener from England Tammy Beaumont produced one of her best knocks in Test cricket. She made 208 against Australia in the first innings during a one-off Test match played at Trent Bridge, Nottingham from 22-26th June 2023.
Beaumont looked impressive with her shots and put pressure on the Australian women. She made 208 off 498 balls with 27 boundaries that helped England women post 463 runs in the first innings with the reply to 473 runs in the first innings.
Beaumont was the last batter to be dismissed and helped inch closer to the Australian women’s total. She scored 22 runs in the 2nd innings chasing down 268 runs.
- Muneeba Ali- 102 against Ireland in T20I
Muneeba Ali became the first Pakistan batter to score a century in T20I format. She achieved this feat during the ICC World T20 2023 against Ireland played in Cape Town on 15th February 2023.
Ali showed her class with a superb 102 off 68 balls including 14 fours that helped Pakistan women post 165 for 5. It was an impressive batting performance by Muneeba Ali scoring runs quickly.
For her match-winning effort, Muneeba Ali was named the player of the match award. Pakistan women won the match by 70 runs.
- Lucia Taylor- 169 against Chile in T20I
It was a record-breaking moment as Lucia Taylor registered the highest-ever individual score by a women batter in the T20I format. She scored 169 for Chile in the first T20I match against Argentina on 13th October 2023.
During 169 off 84 balls knock, Lucia Taylor smashed 27 boundaries that helped Chile post 427 for 1. It was sensational innings, but the innings came against a weaker side which does not count for anything. For her brilliant knock, Lucia Taylor was named the Player of the Match award.
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