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In the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Africa Region Final match on September 30, 2025, Namibia's Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton entered record books. Usually more potent with the bat, the leg-spinner claimed a double hat-trick against Malawi in Harare.
In the Group A match, Loftie-Eaton who has hit a 33-ball century in the format against Nepal, wreaked havoc with the ball right after the powerplay overs.
Loftie-Eaton spins a web
After powerplay overs Malawi were 28/3. The leggie's first dismissal was skipper Moazzam Baig who was too late to defend. The ball flattened off and middle stump. Kazim Somani was the next batter in. Loftie-Eaton bowled it fuller. Somani tried to guide it square of the wicket but the inside edge crashed into stumps.
On the hat-trick ball, he bowled a googly to Suhail Vayani. He went across and was trapped in front of the stumps. He followed it up with another googly. Mike Choamba went on back foot and missed the delivery as he got bowled.
Malawi lost seven wickets for just 27 runs in the seventh over. Loftie-Eaton returned with bowling figures of 4/10 in his quota of four overs. Malawi were bowled out for 71 from 16.2 overs.
Loftie-Eaton in company of elites
Loftie-Eaton became the seventh bowler in T20I cricket history to take a double-hat-trick. He joined the likes of Rashid Khan, Lasith Malinga and Jason Holder on the list.
Easy win for Namibia
In the run chase, Namibia got off to a blazing start. Malan Kruger hit four fours and a six before falling to Sami Sohail in the third over for an 11-ball 28. Sohail got the wicket of Louren Steenkamp for a single-digit score in his next over. In his quota of four overs, the Malawi pacer conceded 42 runs.
Loftie-Eaton contributed with the bat as well, scoring 14 runs from 10 balls. On the other end Jan Frylinck remained unbeaten for an 18-ball 22 and scored the winning runs. Namibia chased down the target of 72 with eight wickets in hand and 12.1 overs to spare.
Loftie-Eaton was named ‘Player of the match’ for his double hat-trick.
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