Georgetown, November 10: India rode on a belligerent maiden T20I century from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur to post the highest ever total of 194/5 against New Zealand in the opening match of the Women's World T20 at the Providence Stadium here on Friday. Harmanpreet Kaur Becomes First Indian Player to Score a Century in Women's T20Is, Achieves Feat During IND W vs NZ W in ICC Women’s World T20 2018.

Kaur belted a 51-ball 103, laced with seven boundaries and eight sixes, and more importantly raised a record 134-run fourth wicket stand with the young Jemimah Rodrigues (59 off 45 balls; 4X7) to bail India out of a troubled start. Watch the Video Highlights of Harmanpreet Kaur's Historic Hundred Here.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, India found themselves in a vulnerable position, tottering at 40/3 by the sixth over, after losing the top three batswomen -- Taniya Bhatia (9), Smriti Mandhana (2) and Dayalan Hemalatha (15), cheaply.

Making her first appearance in a World T20, Jemimah controlled her nerves playing the perfect second fiddle to the fluent Kaur, who was at her aggressive best throughout the innings.

Kaur raced to a 33-ball 50 and in no time converted that to a magnificent century off only 49 deliveries. Even the ICC World T20 Official Twitter handle tweeted about Harmanpreet Kaur's amazing hundred. Check the tweet below:

Sensing the urgency of putting up a big total, Jemimah, towards the end also pressed on the accelerator to get to her half century off 40 balls.

New Zealand managed to get rid of the partnership with Jess Watkin getting the back of Jemimah and Sophie Devine dismissing Kaur, but by then the damage was done as India walked back with the highest ever total in a World T20 tie.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 10, 2018 10:17 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).