Nepal Tri-Nation T20 Series (Game 1) – Namibia vs Nepal
Namibia’s Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton etched his name into cricket history by smashing the fastest T20 International hundred in men’s cricket during an electrifying clash against Nepal in the opening match of the tri-nation series.
Loftie-Eaton’s blitzkrieg innings saw him reach his century in just 33 balls, eclipsing the previous record set by Nepal’s Kushal Malla by a single delivery. His blistering knock comprised 101 runs off a mere 36 balls, adorned with an astonishing 11 fours and eight sixes. Remarkably, Loftie-Eaton’s boundary count of 92 runs surpassed all previous records in T20I cricket, showcasing his extraordinary batting prowess.
Before his epic feat that is expected to inspire more attempts to reach the mark, Loftie-Eaton had played in 32 T20 Internationals and hit just 14 fours and five sixes in all for an aggregate of just 182 runs.
Loftie-Eaton who will turn 23 on March 15 came off age and smashed the bowlers to all corners of the field in a relentless onslaught that left Nepal dumbfounded as 92 of his runs came in boundaries.
Entering the crease with Namibia at 62 for 3 in the 11th over, Loftie-Eaton wasted no time in stamping his authority on the game. His explosive start included two sixes and a four in his first six deliveries, setting the stage for a sensational onslaught. Notching up his half-century in just 18 balls, Loftie-Eaton combined forces with Malan Kruger to craft a scintillating partnership of 135 runs off just 52 balls for the fourth wicket, propelling Namibia to a commanding total of 206 for 4 in their allotted 20 overs. Kruger’s invaluable contribution of an unbeaten 59 off 48 balls complemented Loftie-Eaton’s fireworks, consolidating Namibia’s dominance with the bat.
In addition to his batting heroics, Loftie-Eaton also made significant contributions with the ball, claiming 2 for 29 from his three overs to stifle Nepal’s batting lineup. Despite valiant efforts from Dipendra Singh Airee and Rohit Paudel, who scored 48 and 42 respectively, Nepal succumbed to Namibia’s bowling, ultimately bowled out for 186 in the 19th over.
In the process Loftie-Eaton went past a previous fastest T20 hundred made by Nepal’s Kushal Malla who needed 34 balls and was a mere spectator on the field when his record was broken.
Malla established the record when Nepal made 314 against Mongolia at the 2023 Asian Games in China.
South Africa’s David Miller and India’s Rohit Sharma made T20 International hundreds in 35 balls each that stand out as the fastest against Test playing nations with Miller reaching the feat against Bangladesh in 2017 and Sharma doing the same against Sri Lanka in the same year.
Chief Scores :
Namibia – 206 for 4 in 20 overs (Nicol Loftie-Eaton 101, Malan Kruger 59, Michael van Lingen 20, Rohit Paudel 2 for 30, Karan KC 1 for 32, Abinash Bohara 1 for 49)
Nepal – 186 for 10 in 18.5 overs (Dipendra Singh Airee 48, Rohit Paudel 42, Kushal Malla 32, Ruben Trumpelmann 4 for 29, Nicol Loftie-Eaton 2 for 29, Jan Frylinck 2 for 36)
