Namibia's Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton scripted World Record after smashing fastest T20I century on February 27. With this has etched his name in the history books by scoring century in just 33 deliveries against Nepal in Kirtipur, during the opening game of a tri-series that also includes the Netherlands.
Fastest T20I century for Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton
Loftie-Eaton surpassed the previous record held by Kushal Malla, who had scored a century in 34 balls for Nepal against Mongolia at the Asian Games Men's Cricket Competition in September 2023.
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The 22-year-old Loftie-Eaton unleashed a fierce onslaught, racking up 101 runs from just 36 balls in the match against Nepal. His explosive innings included 11 boundaries and eight sixes, culminating in a strike rate of 280.56. This remarkable performance helped Namibia reach a total of 206/4 in their allotted 20 overs after deciding to bat first upon winning the toss.
Namibia's batting began solidly as the opening pair, Michael van Lingen (20 off 19) and Malan Kruger (59* off 48), put up 36 runs in the first six overs. Van Lingen's innings was halted by Karan KC, followed by Rohit Paudel claiming the scalps of JP Kotze (11) and Jan Frylinck (5), leaving Namibia at 62/3.
At this juncture, Loftie-Eaton teamed up with Kruger, orchestrating a dazzling partnership of 135 runs for the fourth wicket. Loftie-Eaton's brilliant innings was cut short in the final over, as he was caught by Gulsan Jha off the bowling of Abinash Bohara.
Remarkably, prior to his outstanding century on Tuesday, Loftie-Eaton's T20I record wasn't impressive, with an average of just 10.70 across 32 matches, amassing 182 runs at a strike rate of 100.55.
However, his spectacular century against Nepal has catapulted him to the forefront of the fastest T20I century-makers. Surpassing the previous record held by Nepal’s Kushal Malla (34 balls), Loftie-Eaton now leads the chart for the quickest T20I hundreds.
Loftie-Eaton tops the chart with stunning ton
This massive feat repositions South Africa’s David Miller, India’s Rohit Sharma, and the Czech Republic’s Sudesh Wickramasekara to a shared third place, each having scored T20I centuries in 35 deliveries.
Miller's unbeaten 101 off 36 balls came against Bangladesh in Potchefstroom in October 2017. Rohit Sharma's explosive 118 off 43 balls, adorned with 12 fours and 10 sixes, was unleashed against Sri Lanka in Indore in December 2017. Wickramasekara achieved his 104* off 36 balls against Turkey in Ilfov County during the Continental Cup in August 2019, marking their names in T20I history alongside Loftie-Eaton’s record-setting performance.
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