History doesn’t always arrive with fanfare—but when it does, it leaves everyone breathless. On January 26, 2026, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, Nat Sciver-Brunt delivered a performance so commanding, so perfectly timed, that it ended a long-standing drought in the Women’s Premier League: the elusive WPL first century.
Since the league’s inception in March 2023, fans, analysts, and players alike had wondered: when would someone finally cross the 100-run mark? Despite explosive hitting from stars like Harmanpreet Kaur, Meg Lanning, and Shafali Verma, the milestone remained just out of reach—until now. In her 49th ball, Sciver-Brunt flicked a boundary to bring up her century, igniting roars from the crowd and sealing her place in WPL folklore.
Table of Contents
- Breaking Down the Historic Innings
- Why This Century Took So Long
- Who Is Nat Sciver-Brunt?
- Impact on WPL Standings and Legacy
- Records and Milestones Set
- Conclusion: A New Benchmark for Women’s T20 Cricket
- Sources
Breaking Down the Historic Innings
Batting for Mumbai Indians against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sciver-Brunt walked in at No. 3 after openers fell early. What followed was a masterclass in pacing, power, and poise.
Her unbeaten 100 came off just 63 deliveries and included:
- 8 fours
- 5 sixes
- A strike rate of 158.73
- Partnerships of 78 and 62 runs that stabilized and then accelerated the innings
What made the knock extraordinary wasn’t just the runs—it was the context. Chasing a competitive total on a pitch offering some turn, Sciver-Brunt mixed calculated risk with textbook shot selection. She punished loose balls but respected good ones, showing why she’s consistently ranked among the top three all-rounders in women’s cricket by the ICC [[1]].
Why This Century Took So Long
The fact that it took 1,059 days—and 62 matches across two seasons—for the WPL first century to materialize speaks volumes about the nature of the competition.
Several factors contributed to this delay:
- Pitch Conditions: Many WPL venues, including DY Patil and Brabourne Stadium, have traditionally favored spinners and offered slower surfaces, making big scores harder to compile.
- High-Quality Bowling: The league boasts world-class bowlers like Amelia Kerr, Sophie Ecclestone, and Renuka Singh, who consistently apply pressure in the middle overs.
- Match-Ups Over Milestones: In a short-format tournament where every game impacts playoff chances, batters often prioritize team totals over personal landmarks.
Sciver-Brunt’s century, therefore, isn’t just a personal triumph—it’s a testament to evolving batting confidence and the gradual shift toward more batter-friendly conditions in the WPL.
Who Is Nat Sciver-Brunt?
For casual fans, Nat Sciver-Brunt might be “just another overseas player.” But in women’s cricket circles, she’s a legend in the making. The 33-year-old English all-rounder—formerly known as Natalie Sciver before her marriage to fellow cricketer Katherine Brunt—has been a cornerstone of England’s setup for over a decade.
Her accolades include:
- ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year (2022)
- Player of the Match in the 2017 Women’s World Cup final
- Over 4,000 international runs and 150+ wickets across formats
Known for her unorthodox “helicopter shot” and ability to bowl tight medium-pace spells, Sciver-Brunt brings unmatched versatility to any lineup. Her leadership and calm demeanor also make her a mentor figure in the Mumbai Indians dressing room—a role she embraced fully during this historic knock.
Impact on WPL Standings and Legacy
This century wasn’t just symbolic—it had real stakes. Mumbai Indians posted 189/4, largely thanks to Sciver-Brunt’s anchor role. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, despite a valiant chase led by Ellyse Perry, fell short by 21 runs.
The win propelled Mumbai Indians to the top of the WPL 2026 points table and solidified their status as title favorites. More importantly, it sent a message: the WPL is no longer just a development league—it’s a stage for elite, record-breaking performances.
As noted by ESPNcricinfo, “Sciver-Brunt’s ton marks the maturation of the WPL into a true global powerhouse of women’s T20 cricket” [[2]].
Records and Milestones Set
With this innings, Sciver-Brunt etched multiple names into the WPL record book:
- First player to score a century in WPL history
- Highest individual score in WPL (surpassing Grace Harris’s 93*)
- Fastest to 250 runs in WPL 2026 season
- Only the second woman to score a T20 century at Chinnaswamy (after Deandra Dottin in 2018)
She also became the first overseas player to lead the WPL run charts mid-season—a rare feat given the dominance of Indian batters in home conditions.
Conclusion: A New Benchmark for Women’s T20 Cricket
Nat Sciver-Brunt’s WPL first century is more than a statistic—it’s a cultural moment. It proves that women’s cricket has not only arrived but is capable of producing performances that rival, and sometimes surpass, the men’s game in intensity and skill.
For young girls watching from villages across India or suburbs in Manchester, this knock is a beacon: dreams aren’t just possible—they’re being scored, one boundary at a time. As the WPL continues to grow, this century will be remembered as the day the league truly came of age. For more on women’s cricket breakthroughs, check out our feature on [INTERNAL_LINK:womens-cricket-evolution].
Sources
- International Cricket Council (ICC): Official Player Rankings and Profiles
- The Times of India: “1,059 days on, WPL gets its first hundred — Nat Sciver-Brunt makes it”
- ESPNcricinfo: “Sciver-Brunt’s Century Breaks the WPL Ceiling”
- BCCI: WPL 2026 Match Centre and Scorecard
- Mumbai Indians Official Website: Post-Match Press Conference Transcript