Shemaine Campbelle hits glorious back-to-the-wall century at Number 7 for Windies

Colombo, Sri Lanka – Shemaine Campbelle played one of the most remarkable knocks in the history of West Indies Women’s cricket to score her first century at the international level. During the second One-Day International against Sri Lanka at the Rangiri Dambula International Stadium on Sunday, the 20-year-old from Berbice in Guyana made 105 off 138 balls, including eight fours and four sixes.

In the process she established several records – she became the first Guyanese woman to make an international century, and only the second West Indian after Stafanie Taylor – who has made four. Campbelle is also the first West Indian woman to make a century batting at Number 7, and set the record for the highest score ever by a woman batting at Number 7 in One-Day Internationals.

Her back-to-the-wall performance was made even more amazing considering that the West Indies were at one stage 7-4 in seven overs. She came in with the score at 23-5 and her heroic knock helped the Windies post a challenging 180-8 off their 50 overs. However, Sri Lanka batted well and reached 184-6 to win by four wickets and level the three-match series 1-1.

"It feels great to get my first hundred after I played so well today. I did a lot of good things out there today – I was patient in the early stages and when the time came to attack I picked the right balls to hit and made it count. The coach always told me he knew I had it in me to play this well, and I’m happy I was able to repay that faith with a big innings," Campbelle said after the match.

"It also feels great to do so well for the West Indies. When I was at the crease I felt really relaxed and I was enjoying my batting. I wasn’t nervous when I got close, because I knew I was hitting the ball cleanly and once I stayed focused I would get there."

Campbelle added: "When I went in to bat I had one thing in mind, and that was to try to bat to the end. We were in some deep trouble and I knew I had to play really well to dig us out. The Sri Lankans bowled really well and we lost some quick wickets so everything was left up to me.

"I didn’t have a good time with the bat in the World Cup in India and I was little down coming over here. But I told myself I was still capable of doing well at this level and I got a lot of advice and help from the others in the team, who kept giving me encouragement. We have one more match to go on Tuesday and we need to win to take the series and I know with the type of team spirit we have we will pull it off."

When West Indies took to the field they were handicapped by the absence of Anisa Mohammed, the experienced off-spinner, who suffered a hamstring injury and is doubtful for the third and decisive match on Tuesday at the same venue.