Harmanpreet Kaur has become the first Indian woman to hit a century in an international Twenty20 in helping her side to a 34-run win over New Zealand in the World Twenty20 opener.
A year after knocking Australia out of the one-day World Cup semi-finals with a blistering 171, Kaur whacked an unbeaten 103 off 51 balls against the White Ferns in Guyana.
Her knock included eight sixes, already one more than the Indians hit as a team combined in the last World Twenty20 at home in 2016.
Batting first, Kaur combined with Jemimah Rodrigues (59 from 45) in a 144-run fourth-wicket stand to help India to 5-194 from their 20 overs.
"Both were big innings for us," Kaur said when asked to compare her century with the one in last-year's ODI semi-final against Australia.
"We were qualifying for the finals and today was still staying in the league ... I think both innings were important.
"And happy whenever you get runs and the team wins. It always give you motivation. And it's really good for me to build my inning in the next upcoming games."
In reply, the world's best women's T20 bat Suzie Bates hit 67 off 50 balls as New Zealand reached 9-160 as Indian spinners Dayalan Hemalatha and Poonam Yadav claimed three wickets each.
"It's one of the best," New Zealand captain Amy Satterthwaite said of Kaur's innings.
"Obviously I've been fortunate enough to see some pretty special innings from the likes of Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine.
"I'd say it was right up there. Her striking was outstanding and her ability to clear the boundary is something that's pretty unique in a way."
The win on Saturday (AEDT) puts India at the top of Group B alongside Australia, with them and New Zealand likely to vie for the top two spots in the pool to reach the semi-finals.
