Namibian cricketer Jan-Nicol Loftie-Eaton etched his name in the annals of cricket history with a record-breaking century against Nepal. The 22-year-old left-handed batsman achieved the remarkable feat by scoring the fastest century in T20I history. He just took 33 balls to reach the milestone.
This accomplishment surpassed the previous record set by Nepal’s Kushal Malla, who had achieved a century in 34 balls against Mongolia during the Asian Games in 2023. Loftie-Eaton’s extraordinary innings saw him amass 101 runs off 36 balls, exhibiting a breathtaking display of power-hitting with 11 fours and eight sixes.
The southpaw’s innings contributed significantly to Namibia’s total score of 206/4 in 20 overs after opting to bat first. Earlier, Namibia faced some early setbacks with the dismissals of openers Michael van Lingen and JP Kotze.
However, Loftie-Eaton orchestrated a spectacular 135-run partnership for the fourth wicket alongside Malan Kruger (59* off 48), steering the team to a commanding position. Despite facing criticism for his previous T20I batting record, Loftie-Eaton’s innings showcased his ability to deliver under pressure and silenced his critics.
Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton had struggled in T20Is
Before this historic innings, Loftie-Eaton had struggled in T20Is, averaging only 10.70 in 32 matches with 182 runs at a strike rate of 100.55. However, his breathtaking century against Nepal not only secured Namibia’s dominant position in the match but also catapulted him to the top of the list of batsmen with the fastest T20I centuries.
With this achievement, Loftie-Eaton surpassed notable names like David Miller, Rohit Sharma, and Sudesh Wickramasekara, who previously held the joint record for the fastest T20I century in 35 balls. Loftie-Eaton’s innings not only marked a personal triumph but also became a watershed moment in Namibian cricket.
| Players | Balls taken to Century |
| Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton | 33 |
| Kushal Malla | 34 |
| Rohit Sharma | 35 |
| David Miller | 35 |
| Sudesh Wickramasekara | 35 |
