West Indies cricketer Deandra Dottin is renowned for holding the Guinness World Record for the fastest century in T20 International cricket by a woman. Achieving this remarkable feat in 2010 at Warner Park, St Kitts, she reached 100 runs off just 38 balls, including nine sixes and five fours, concluding her innings at an astounding 112 not out from 45 balls. That day, the Proteas Women witnessed an explosive display of batting.
In 2022, South African bowlers likely breathed a sigh of relief when Dottin announced her retirement, disillusioned by a "non-conducive" atmosphere within the West Indies Women’s cricket framework after scoring 3,727 runs in 143 One-Day Internationals and 2,697 runs in 127 T20 Internationals. However, after a two-year hiatus, Dottin is set to face the Proteas once again at the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup, kicking off at the Dubai International Stadium.
Reflecting on her break, Dottin expressed, "I missed the fun and the big stage... it was hard to stay away." Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt acknowledges the threat posed by Dottin, alongside Hayley Matthews, stating their team is prepared with strategies to counter the West Indies’ firepower. Wolvaardt emphasised the unpredictable nature of their opponents, highlighting the need for their best performance given the explosive potential of Dottin and Matthews. The anticipation builds as the two teams prepare to clash on the international stage.