Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton hits fastest T20I century for Namibia

Nepal’s Kushal Malla, who scored a 34-ball hundred against Mongolia last September, is surpassed in the all-time rankings during the opening match of the Tri-Nation T20I series in Kirtipur

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Namibia batter Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton has broken the record for the fastest century in a T20 international.

The 22-year-old produced the record-breaking knock against Nepal in Kirtipur, reaching three figures off just 33 balls.

The previous fastest century belonged to Nepal’s Kushal Malla, who scored a 34-ball hundred against Mongolia last September.

Only Chris Gayle (30 balls for RCB against Pune Warriors in 2013) and Rishabh Pant (32 balls for Delhi against Himachal Pradesh) have scored faster centuries in all T20 cricket.

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Kushal Malla 34-ball hundred against Mongolia last year has been surpassed (Surjeet Yadav/Getty Images)

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David Miller and Rohit Sharma both struck 35-ball centuries in 2017 (Getty Images)

In total, Loftie-Eaton scored 101 runs off 36 balls to help lead Namibia to a 20-run victory in the first T20I of the Nepal Tri-Nation T20I series, a tournament which also includes the Netherlands.

His knock included 11 fours and eight sixes, meaning 92 of the runs he scored came via boundaries, while he also shared a 135-ball fourth-wicket partnership off just 52 balls with Malan Kruger before being caught by Gulsan Jha off the bowling of Abinash Bohara in the final over.

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Chris Gayle's ton in the 2013 IPL remains the fastest in all T20 cricket(INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP/GettyImages)

It is Loftie-Eaton’s maiden century in both international and T20 cricket, and only the third time a Namibia batter has reached three figures in a men’s T20I, after Jean-Pierre Kotze (101 not out versus Botswana, 2019) and Gerhard Erasmus (100 not out versus Uganda, 2022).

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