Rwanda’s Fanny Utagushimaninde Sets New Landmark in Women’s T20 Cricket

Rwanda’s Fanny Utagushimaninde has etched her name into the history books, becoming the youngest woman to score a century in a Twenty20 International (T20I) cricket match. The 15-year-classic achieved this remarkable feat on her debut, scoring an unbeaten 111 off 65 balls against Ghana at the Nigeria Invitational Women’s T20I Tournament in Lagos on Saturday, March 22, 2026.

Record-Breaking Performance

Utagushimaninde’s innings propelled Rwanda to a commanding 122-run victory over Ghana, with Rwanda posting a total of 210/3 in 20 overs while restricting Ghana to 88/8. She reached her century off 59 balls in the 18th over, with a well-placed clip through mid-wicket off Ghana seamer Elizabeth Annor.

This achievement surpasses the previous record held by Uganda’s Prosscovia Alako, who was 16 years and 233 days old when she scored a hundred against Mali in June 2019. Utagushimaninde’s age at the time of her century was 15 years and 223 days.

Debut Impact and Additional Records

Beyond being the youngest centurion in Women’s T20I history, Utagushimaninde also set a new benchmark for the highest score by a woman on her T20I debut, surpassing the previous record of 96 made by Australia’s Karen Rolton against England in 2005.

A Dream Come True

“It was a special moment for me and my cricket journey. A dream to achieve it on my debut at 15,” Utagushimaninde told BBC Sport. “This shows my hard work, confidence and passion for the game. I’m grateful for the support from my coaches, team-mates and everyone around me. I will keep pushing myself to improve and achieve more in the future.”

Development of Cricket in Rwanda

Rwanda coach Leonard Nhamburo highlighted the significance of Utagushimaninde’s performance, stating it was “a testament of the hard work and dedication” she has demonstrated. He added that it reflects the growing development of cricket within Rwanda, noting that Utagushimaninde came through a schools program supported by the Marylebone Cricket Club Foundation.

Youngest Century Makers in International Cricket

While Utagushimaninde’s achievement is a landmark in women’s cricket, it’s worth noting that France’s Gustav Mckeon holds the record as the youngest player to hit a T20 international century in men’s cricket, achieving the feat at 18 years and 280 days against Switzerland in July 2022.