NEW DELHI:
Namibia
's
Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton
etched his name in cricketing history by smashing the fastest century in
T20 Internationals
(T20Is), achieving the remarkable feat in just 33 balls against Nepal.
In the inaugural match of the
Nepal Tri-Nation T20I series
against the hosts, Loftie-Eaton's scintillating knock steered Namibia to a commanding position after a shaky start.
Coming in when his team was struggling at 62/3 in the 11th over against the Rhinos, Loftie-Eaton unleashed a breathtaking display of attacking cricket, propelling Namibia past the 200-run mark.
With an astonishing array of strokes, Loftie-Eaton blasted 11 fours and eight sixes en route to his phenomenal century, reaching 101 off just 36 deliveries. He sealed the hundred with a boundary on the 33rd ball, eclipsing the previous record held by Nepal's
Kushal Malla
, who achieved a century off 34 balls against Mongolia last year.
Loftie-Eaton's explosive innings powered Namibia to a formidable total of 206/4 in their allotted 20 overs. Despite valiant efforts from Nepal's batsmen including Rohit Paudel, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, and Sompal Kami, the hosts fell short by 20 runs in their pursuit of the target.
In addition to his blistering batting performance, Loftie-Eaton also made significant contributions with the ball, claiming two wickets with his spin bowling. His all-round brilliance earned him the prestigious Player of the Match award, cementing his place in T20I folklore.
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