Cricket

Dean's stunning century smashes all-time Army record to help her side retain T20 crown

16th September 2026 at 9:39am

Power, precision and passion were on the menu as the Army’s Georgina Dean served up a stellar show to bat her side to women's T20 cricket glory once again.

Dean’s 107 not out in the face of Royal Air Force bowling not only proved too much for the light blues in the deciding match, which the Army won by 98 runs to lift the trophy, but also shattered the all-time Army record for centuries scored by a male or female player in one season – this was Dean’s fourth in 2026.

It came off the back of a 50 to help see off the Royal Navy challenge earlier in the day, on her team's way to an impressive win on home turf in Aldershot.

Rescheduled, but rain loomed again in game 1

The day began under leaden skies reminiscent of scenes at Arundel in June, where the tournament was due to be played but had to be abandoned and rescheduled due to the washout.

Come the end of the season and testing the limits of Mother Nature's hospitality as autumnal air flows in, the first of the three matches in the women's Inter Services T20 competition was plagued by rain and intermittent appearance of the covers.

Eventually, however, play got underway with a reduced allocation of 15 overs per side. The RAF won the toss and elected to bowl, and had the Navy 14-2 after 4.3 overs, then 24-3 after 6.4 and restricted the senior service to 51-6 in their 15.

Emily Green and Grace Bambury took two wickets apiece (both with figures of 2-9 in their 3-over spells), while opener Gina Whitchurch and Jade Brown got a wicket each.

The Air Force then made light work of the chase, knocking off the runs in just 6.1 overs, with opening bat and wicketkeeper Ellie Stanley scoring 42 not out, including 6 fours to set her side up for a showdown with the defending champions later in the day.

(Left to right): The Royal Navy, RAF and British Army pose during the women's Inter Services T20 cricket competition in Aldershot (Picture: BFBS)

Army sees off Royal Navy challenge in game 2

It was then the turn of the defending champions to enter the competition, as the weather got fairer.

The Navy won the toss and stuck their opponents in. Openers Eve Alder and Connie Cant put on 65 for the first wicket, before Alder fell for 17, caught by Raphaella Sheldon off the bowling of Kay Witten.

Cant herself was dismissed for 45, bowled by Wendy Goode, before Georgina Dean (58 from 43 balls) and Kimone Homer (51 from 34) put on a 122-run stand to lift the red shirts to a total of 193-2 in their 20 overs.

In response, Amelia Till got the early blow, bowling Pippa Chadwick for 9 to leave the score 22-1 off 7.3 overs.

Connie Cant took two wickets, (bowling Mollie Penny for a duck and a sharp caught-and-bowled to dismiss Raphaella Sheldon for 10), with Victoria Cannon scoring 38 not out, with the Navy finishing on 71-3 and losing by 122 runs.

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Army and RAF go head-to-head for glory in game 3

Once again, the RAF won the toss and elected to bowl, picking up the huge wicket of star batter Connie Cant in the third over, to leave the score at 14-1.

Opener Georgina Dean and Kimone Homer once again combined for a mammoth partnership – 123 runs this time – before Homer fell for 43 from 40 balls, bowled by Emma Walker.

Rachel Moore was on a hat-trick with the wickets of Alder and Franks to give the RAF hope of putting a lid on their opponents' scoring, but this was a day of history-making, as Georgina Dean struck 13 fours and 4 sixes on the way to a blistering 107 not out.

Her innings began in rather obdurate fashion, owing to a pitch that was a little two-paced at times – something she put down to the drought before recent rain.

But she showed an array of strokes all around the ground to strike her fourth 100 of the season, and breaking a record for the Army, male or female.

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Beaming as she held her arms aloft, taking in adoration of her teammates sitting on the steps of the Aldershot pavilion, she took her side to a total of 176 for four in 20 overs.

Over to the RAF.

The Army never let their opponents settle, taking wickets at regular intervals, setting the tone right from the off with the side 1-1 when Aimee Jepson was caught by Izzy Harrison off the bowling of Abbie Steele nee Sullivan.

Steele's impressive 2-10 in her four-over spell was magnificent, teasing batters' outside edges as she found some movement through the air and off the pitch. Kimone Homer was also outstanding – 3-11 in her four overs and the Army bowled out the Air Force for 78 in 19.1 overs to complete a hammering and retain their Inter Services T20 title.