Emily Drumm, the New Zealand women's cricket captain, is not used to her batting inspiring pitch invasions - but that's what happened when she posted a run-a-ball century against South Africa at Lincoln Green today.

She scored 108 not out from 104 balls.

As far as women's cricket concerned crowd support is something of a misnomer for the small band of enthusiasts, mainly older women players reflecting on their own careers around the boundary.

But the CricInfo Women's World Cup in Christchurch has at least helped the women's game shed that image.

While crowd support is nothing like that in India in the last women's tournament, it is continually drawing good crowds to the Lincoln University complex and the idea of bussing in school children in the last week of their educational year has been a novel exercise.

That was seen when Drumm reached 100 today, in the midst of a highly-entertaining sixth-wicket partnership of 82 runs from 50 balls with Haidee Tiffen.

Spectators, not all of them children, raced into the middle to congratulate Drumm whose second 50 was scored from 36 balls.

"That sort of thing is awesome. I thought it was great. I would love to have shaken all their hands but it was not practical at that time.

"It makes you feel good about yourself," she said.

Drumm likened her innings to her first century, against England at Oamaru three weeks ago.

"I was slow to get to 50 but then I took off.

"I'm really pleased, I had nothing for a while and now I've had two centuries in a short time," she said.

Drumm was thriving in the tournament atmosphere and in the stable environment with all the games being played in a similar area.

"It is good fun to be just playing cricket. We don't get to play enough cricket," she said.

The way the side was playing was also satisfying.

"We're a better side now than when we were playing against England. There is so much talent in our team, and they can't all get games."

On a day like today when several batsmen found their touch she said it was important for players not to get too excited in the heady atmosphere and she is keen that the side get to chase a reasonable total at some stage of the event.

© CricInfo