Held every alternate year since the first edition in 2009, the women’s T20 World Cup competition has seen several outstanding players rise to the occasion, scoring runs at will and breaking multiple records along the way. This article revolves around the leading run-scorers of each Women’s T20 World Cup from 2009 to 2023 with nine editions taking place during this period.
2009 Women’s T20 World Cup: Aimee Watkins (200 runs)
The inaugural edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup was held in England. Aimee Watkins from New Zealand was the leading run-scorer. Leading her national side during the first edition, Watkins wasted no time making her mark, starting the World Cup with an unbeaten 73 batting at three against Australia in New Zealand’s first match, playing a crucial role in guiding her team to victory while chasing 124. This was followed by a 28-ball 35 against South Africa. In the semi-final match against India, she scored an unbeaten 89 off 58 while batting first. Watkins averaged 66, scoring a total of 200 runs in five matches and was also part of the ICC Team of the Tournament. Unfortunately, her team lost to England in the final.
2010 Women’s T20 World Cup: Sara McGlashan (147 runs)
During the second edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup, New Zealand again led the tally with Sara McGlashan, following Aimee Watkins in 2009. The wicket-keeper batter didn’t have an ideal start to the tournament, dismissed for 15 against India. However, she scored a handy 31 off 22 balls against Sri Lanka and then came a standout performance, scoring 84 off 55 balls against the West Indies, securing a spot in the final. She ended the tournament as the leading run-scorer, averaging 36 in five matches.
2012 Women’s T20 World Cup: Charlotte Edwards (172 runs)
The English captain, Charlotte Edwards, topped the charts in the 2012 Women’s T20 World Cup with 172 runs. Edwards began the tournament with 45 runs against Pakistan, followed by a fifty against India, guiding her team to a comfortable victory while chasing 118. She scored 33 runs in the semi-final against New Zealand, playing a crucial cameo role to secure a victory. The right-handed batter scored 28 in the final against Australia, ending the tournament with 172 runs as the leading run-scorer.
2014 Women’s T20 World Cup: Meg Lanning (257 runs)
Held in Bangladesh, the fourth edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup saw Australian skipper Meg Lanning as the leading run-scorer with an astonishing 257 runs. Although she didn’t start the tournament well, getting out for two runs against New Zealand and six runs against South Africa, she picked up the pace, scoring 50 off 33 balls against Pakistan. In the match against Ireland, she struck her first T20 century, scoring 126. Lanning scored 29 and 44 in the semi-final and final, respectively, as Australia went on to win the World Cup. She was part of the ICC Team of the Tournament following her spectacular performances with the bat.
2016 Women’s T20 World Cup: Stafanie Taylor (246 runs)
India hosted the 2016 Women’s T20 World Cup. The West Indies skipper, Stafanie Taylor, was the leading run-scorer of the tournament. Taylor’s runs came against several formidable teams, including 40 against Pakistan in the group stages, followed by 40 and 47 against Bangladesh and India, respectively. In the final against Australia, she scored 59 runs, helping her team chase down a target of 149. Taylor was also the Player of the Tournament, with 246 runs in six matches at an average of 41, and she claimed eight wickets.
2018 Women’s T20 World Cup: Alyssa Healy (225 runs)
The 2018 Women’s T20 World Cup was hosted by the defending champions, the West Indies. Australian opener Alyssa Healy led the charts in most runs during the tournament. She kicked off her campaign with 48 runs against Pakistan in the first match, followed by an unbeaten 56 against Ireland while chasing 94. She scored 53 against New Zealand and 46 against the host nation in the semi-final clash, as Australia secured a win. Healy ended the tournament with 225 runs in five matches, receiving the Player of the Tournament award as Australia went on to win the World Cup, beating England in the final.
2020 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: Beth Mooney (259 runs)
Australia hosted the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup and one of their very own Beth Mooney emerged as the leading run-scorer with 259 runs. Although she didn’t have a great start to the tournament, scoring in single digits initially, she made a strong comeback with 83 against Bangladesh, also stitching a 151-run partnership, the highest for Australia women for any wicket in WT20Is. She scored another fifty with 60 against New Zealand. Mooney scored an unbeaten 78 against India in the final as Australia won the World Cup. She was named Player of the Tournament, with her 259 runs being the most in any edition of the World Cup.
2023 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup: Laura Wolvaardt (230 runs)
The eighth edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup was hosted by South Africa, with their opener Laura Wolvaardt scoring 230 runs in the tournament. She started with 18 against Sri Lanka, failing to convert it into a big score. However, in the match against Bangladesh, Laura scored an unbeaten 66 off 56 balls, guiding her team to a 10-wicket victory. She also scored 53 against England in the semi-final, helping her team secure a victory. Wolvaardt scored her third consecutive half-century in the final, scoring 61 runs. Although her team finished as runners-up, Laura’s exceptional performances, particularly during the knockout stages, were memorable.
