Fastest ever century to be hit during World Cup: Jones

World Cup winner Mel Jones expects records to be broken in the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup, tipping West Indian Deandra Dottin's benchmark for the fastest ever century to be eclipsed.

And Jones went one step further by predicting who will break Dottin's 38-ball record set 10 years ago against South Africa in St Kitts – New Zealand captain Sophie Devine.

"My bold prediction is that Deandra Dottin's 38-ball hundred might just go this World Cup and if it does I think it will be Sophie Devine," Jones said on this week's episode of The Unplayable Podcast.

"There is no ground big enough for her and she's the leading wicket-taker in T20s with the ball for New Zealand as well.

"She has just this presence, she's captain now so I think definitely her from New Zealand (is one to watch)."

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FASTEST WOMEN'S T20I CENTURIES

Deandra Dottin (West Indies), 38 balls v South Africa in St Kitts, 2010

Alyssa Healy (Australia), 46 balls v Sri Lanka at North Sydney Oval, 2019

Tammy Beaumont (England), 47 balls v South Africa at Taunton, 2018

Harmanpreet Kaur (India), 49 balls v New Zealand in Guyana, 2018

Meg Lanning (Australia), 51 balls v England at Chelmsford, 2019

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Devine is in the kind of form to challenge Dottin's record.

Eight days ago, the 30-year-old scored her maiden T20 international century, a brutal 105 from 65 balls against South Africa in Wellington, a knock which featured 12 fours and three sixes.

That innings was Devine's fifth straight score of 50 or more, a new world record – either men's or women's – for most consecutive half-centuries in T20 internationals.

She was also the leading run-scorer in this summer's Rebel WBBL with 769 runs at 76.9 for the Adelaide Strikers, crashing 68 fours and a tournament-high 29 sixes.

While Devine can win a game singlehandedly, Jones believes the team that wins the little moments throughout their World Cup campaign will be the one lifting the trophy at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 8.

"It'll be the little things," Jones said.

"Yes, you've got big x-factor players like an Ash Gardner coming in and just bombing sixes left, right and centre and that might get you over the line but it might be a four-ball spell somewhere in the middle that changes the game.

"Fielding, as always, is critical – if you don't bring your A game there you won't get through.

"I think you can look back over it and say the little moments in games right throughout where someone in the team put their hand up and won it and collectively that will get them over the line."

The ICC Women's T20 World Cup begins on Friday when Australia take on India in Sydney.

2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Erin Burns, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy (wk), Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham

Warm-up

February 18: Australia v South Africa, Karen Rolton Oval

Tournament

February 21:Australia v India, Sydney Showgrounds

February 24: Australia v Sri Lanka, WACA Ground

February 27: Australia v Bangladesh, Manuka Oval 

March 2: Australia v New Zealand, Junction Oval

March 5: Semi-final 1 & Semi-final 2, SCG

March 8: Final, MCG

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE

* All matches will be broadcast on Fox Cricket and Kayo, while Australia’s matches will also be broadcast on the Nine Network