Unsold at WPL auction, Tanisha Singh hits 119 as Delhi set women's domestic T20 record

Tanisha Singh scored 119 off 47 balls for Delhi against Hyderabad in the Senior Women's T20 Trophy on Thursday, a day after going unsold at the Women's Premier League auction. Her innings helped Delhi post 262 for 6 and the team then restricted Hyderabad to 154 for 8 for a 108-run victory.

Singh entered the WPL auction with a base price of Rs 10 lakh but was not among the 27 players picked by franchises; she is 23 years old. The unbeaten performance came immediately after the auction round in which she missed out on a contract.

Singh reached her century in 38 balls, striking 25 fours and a six during the knock. That 38-ball hundred is the joint third-fastest in women's T20 cricket, with only Kiran Navgire (34 balls) and Sophie Devine (36 balls) recording quicker centuries, and it matches Deandra Dottin's 38-ball century against South Africa in 2010.

Tanisha combined with Priya Punia to build a 160-run partnership for the second wicket in 66 balls; Punia is described in the report as an out-of-favour India international. Their stand formed the backbone of Delhi's innings and maintained the team's high scoring rate.

Delhi's 262 for 6 eclipsed the previous women's domestic T20 record of 257 for 2, set by Goa against Arunachal Pradesh in the 2019-20 season. The total also ranks as the 11th highest score in women's T20 cricket overall, with the top 10 scores recorded in women's T20 internationals.

Chasing 263, Hyderabad managed 154 for 8 as Sumiti Soni led Delhi's bowling with three wickets for 28 runs. The bowling effort ensured Hyderabad were unable to mount a serious challenge to the target.

The victory combined Delhi's record-breaking batting with an effective bowling display. For Tanisha Singh, the innings offered a timely reminder of her ability and could put her back on the radar of WPL teams should they require injury replacements during the tournament.