For a select few players in women’s One Day Internationals (ODIs), their birthdays became a canvas on which they painted cricketing brilliance, turning personal celebrations into collective memories for their fans and teams. Only a handful of women cricketers have managed to cross the 50-run mark in an ODI on their birthday, rising to the occasion when the weight of the calendar met the pressure of world-class opposition.
Here, we revisit the standout innings from four remarkable cricketers, Amy Hunter, Sophia Dunkley, Amy Jones, and Oshadi Ranasinghe, who transformed their birthdays into career landmarks.
Amy Hunter (Ireland): 121* vs Zimbabwe, 2016
Amy Hunter’s 16th birthday wasn’t just the start of another year in her life; it was a moment that etched her name firmly in cricket history. In the fourth ODI of Ireland’s tour of Zimbabwe in 2021, the teenage sensation announced herself to the world with a stunning unbeaten 121* off 127 balls. Her knock, decorated with eight boundaries, helped Ireland post a commanding 312/3, a total that proved 85 runs too many for Zimbabwe.
This innings was significant not just for the scoreboard, but because it made Amy Hunter the youngest female centurion in the history of international cricket. She also walked away with the Player of the Match honours on her special day. To date, this remains her highest score in ODI cricket. In her ODI career so far, the right-handed wicket-keeper batter has scored 977 runs in 36 innings, at a strike rate of 86 and an average of 29.60, including 1 century and 6 half-centuries. With youth on her side and serious skill in her kit, Amy Hunter’s birthday miracle was just the beginning of many records to fall.
Sophia Dunkley (England): 83 vs India, 2025
Sophia Dunkley’s 27th birthday had a memorable chapter written as the stylish right-hander’s knock was a shining light in an otherwise challenging day. In the 1st ODI between England and India at the Rose Bowl, Dunkley played a composed and richly timed innings of 83 off 92 balls, laced with nine boundaries. She not only stabilised but also steered the England innings, after the home side were in trouble at 91/3 in the 19th over of the innings when she stepped on to the crease to join skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt, she anchored England’s total to 258/6 in their 50 overs.
Her innings was not only her 6th ODI fifty, but it also made her the Englishwoman with the highest birthday score in Women’s ODIs, surpassing Amy Jones, who previously held the record. Dunkley’s calm and fluent knock earned nods of appreciation from both fans and pundits alike. With 36 ODI innings to her name, Dunkley has now amassed 938 runs at a strike rate of 84.73 and a batting average of 27.58, including 1 century and 6 fifties. Her best ODI performance remains a dazzling 107 off 93 balls against South Africa at Bristol in July 2022, a testament to her match-winning pedigree.
Amy Jones (England): 80 vs West Indies, 2019
On her 26th birthday, Amy Jones delivered a classy, confident innings that captured both elegance and efficiency. The match took place in Chelmsford during a rain-affected third ODI against the West Indies. After being asked to bat first, England tallied a formidable 258/4 in just 39 overs, with Jones anchoring the innings with a fluent 80 off 83 balls. Her effort included six boundaries and one six and earned her the well-deserved Player of the Match award. This performance not only sealed a 135-run win for England but also helped them complete a 3-0 whitewash in the ODI series.
Over the course of her career, Jones has played 84 ODI innings, amassing 2,389 runs at a strike rate of 85.35 and a batting average of 32.28. Her record includes 14 half-centuries and 2 centuries, standing as a beacon of consistency in England’s middle order for over a decade. Her best performance with the bat for England in the format came on 4th June 2025 against the West Indies at Leicester, when she scored 129 (98 balls) after being promoted to open the innings in the 2nd ODI.
Oshadi Ranasinghe (Sri Lanka): 51* vs England, 2019
Spin-bowling all-rounder Oshadi Ranasinghe made her 33rd birthday one for the books with a gritty knock of 51* off 72 balls against a powerful England side. In the 1st ODI at Hambantota, Sri Lanka were facing a daunting target of 314 in a rain-curtailed chase. Despite the pressure and eventual 154-run defeat, Ranasinghe stood tall amidst the collapse, steering her way to a resilient, unbeaten half-century, the highest score of her ODI career to date. Her innings included seven crisp boundaries.
Though Sri Lanka couldn’t get over the line, Ranasinghe’s contribution was a rare positive for the hosts on a tough day. Better known for her bowling exploits, this performance on her birthday highlighted her value as a true all-rounder. So far in her ODI career, Oshadi Ranasinghe has scored 367 runs in 33 innings with the bat. With the ball, she has been even more impactful, picking up 40 wickets across 39 innings at an average of 31.75 and an economy of 5.18, including one five-wicket haul.
A birthday in professional sport is often just another day of responsibilities, pressure, and performance. Yet, for Amy Hunter, Sophia Dunkley, Amy Jones, and Oshadi Ranasinghe, it became a turning point, a day immortalised by the weight of runs and the joy of international excellence. These knocks go beyond personal milestones; they reflect the rising standard, resilience, and elegance of modern women’s cricket.
