Smashing two significant New Zealand records on debut is a dream start to 20-year-old Central Hind Jess Watkin’s international career.

Whanganui’s Watkin, who made her WHITE FERNS debut overnight in a 10-wicket Twenty20 win over Ireland in Dublin, slammed an unbeaten 77 of just 38 balls in her first international match, raising a maiden half century on debut with the second of her three sixes.

It was the highest score by any WHITE FERN on Twenty20 International debut, and part of the fifth highest partnership in women’s Twenty20 Internationals (all countries).

Chasing Ireland Women’s 136 for eight, the new power opening pairing of captain Suzie Bates and debutante Watkin reached their target with nine overs to spare in a nerveless performance that also broke the record for the WHITE FERNS’ highest partnership in Twenty20 Internationals — for any wicket.

Watkin’s impressive rookie half century flew off just 26 balls (8 x 4, 2 x 6) as the pair set a new mark of 142*, eclipsing the previous record set by veterans Amy Satterthwaite and Katey Martin's 124 at Mount Maunganui earlier this year.

CDCA CEO Pete de Wet congratulated Watkin on an exciting beginning to her international career.

“After Jess’s groundbreaking double century at last season’s NZC Under 21 tournament, and her inspirational achievements already at such a young age for our Central Hinds, nothing much surprises us about Jess anymore — we are simply thrilled to see her career going from strength to strength, knowing the dedication that lies behind it.”

The power-hitter was CDCA’s Central Hinds player of the year two seasons ago — when she was just 18; while this season Watkin was named CDCA’s Women’s T20 Player of the Year, and captained the national championship-winning CD Women’s Under-21 team.

Watkin’s stunning international debut caps a big week for homegrown CDCA players that has also seen Central Stags George Worker drafted for an overseas T20 league for the first time and Tom Bruce signed to play in T20 Blast for the Sussex Sharks, joining fellow Stag Adam MIlne (Kent Spitfires) in the England’s T20 showcase.

Worker will be one of the star-studded Montreal Tigers squad in Canada’s inaugural Global T20 Canada tournament, beginning later this month while Ross Taylor is in action for Nottingham in the UK’s One-Day Cup and County Championship.