Deandra Dottin once again demonstrated why she is regarded as one of the most explosive players in women’s cricket as she delivered a stunning performance in the first T20I against Bangladesh.
Her unbeaten 51 off just 22 balls, laced with seven sixes, not only secured a dominant eight-wicket win for the West Indies Women but also showcased her ability to single-handedly dismantle bowling attacks.
Dottin’s weapon of choice? A bat that she calls her favourite.
“I'm not sure, but I think it's the best out of the three that I have,” she said when asked about the bat that powered her six-hitting spree at Warner Park on Monday.
“It is just a matter of assessing all of them and just finding the good balance and rhythm with it,” Dottin added.
While the bat plays a role, Dottin’s explosive strength is what truly sets her apart. Opposition players were visibly curious, inspecting her bat and even asking for tips after the explosive all-rounder and captain Hayley Matthews, who made 54-ball 60, took them to task in an unbroken 72-run stand as the Caribbean side’s chase was comfortable at 145-2.
“They were also asking for little tips on how strong I am,” she said with a laugh.
That said, Dottin pointed out that Warner Park holds a special place in her heart, as it is the venue where she made history during the 2010 World Cup by scoring the fastest century in women’s T20 cricket.
Monday’s innings added another milestone to her record-breaking career as she smashed the fastest T20I half-century in the women’s game.
“Yeah, I think this is my favourite venue in the Caribbean, and I basically came out with a little vengeance after getting out early in one of the ODIs. So I just said that I’m coming out to beat ball,” she admitted.
However, the 33-year-old’s approach to batting is not just about raw power—it's a calculated art. She explained how she assesses conditions, bowlers, and the pitch to maximize her impact.
“Sometimes I do get off to a fast start; sometimes I don't. It’s just a matter of assessing the pitch and feeling out the bowlers, kind of getting them comfortable and making them feel a false sense of security. Then, after that, it’s just about picking my areas to hit the ball,” Dottin shared.
While she didn’t get in the wickets column when the West Indies restricted Bangladesh to 144-3, Dottin conceded just 13 runs in her spell. Still, she acknowledged areas for improvement in her bowling, particularly her line and wrist positioning.
“It’s just a matter of bowling more outside off and keeping my wrist behind the ball so I wouldn’t bowl wide or get too much down the leg side,” she explained.
Finally, the Barbadian, who has registered the most sixes in the women's game—124—highlighted the importance of self-belief and determination.
“It’s just a matter of backing yourself, assessing the conditions and the pitch really quick, and taking on the bowlers that you know are actually weak in a sense. But like I said, it all boils down to believing in yourself and having that determination and wanting it more,” Dottin ended.