Kim Cotton makes history as first female on-field umpire in full-member men's international

Cotton, 45, stood in the second T20I between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Dunedin

Kim Cotton etched her name in the history books when she became the first female on-field umpire to stand in a men's international match between two full-member nations.

The 45-year-old New Zealander took to the middle for the second T20I between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Dunedin on Wednesday, April 5.

Cotton has been a regular on the New Zealand domestic circuit for several years as well as officiating over 60 women's internationals since 2018, including the Women's T20 World Cup final between Australia and South Africa earlier this year.

^{New Zealand won the second T20I by nine wickets [Joe Allison/Getty Images]}

She had previously served as a TV umpire in a men's Test match between New Zealand and India in 2020 but is not the first female to umpire a men's international, however. That honour belongs to Australian official Claire Polosak, who stood in a one-day match between Oman and Namibia back in 2019.

Wednesday's game saw the Black Caps level the series 1-1 after defeating Sri Lanka by nine wickets.

Fast bowler Adam Milne took 5 for 26 as Sri Lanka were all out for 141. Tim Seifert then ensured his team saw out the victory comfortably, hitting an unbeaten 79.

The final game of the three match T20 series is set to take place on Saturday, April 8.

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