Loftie-Eaton delivers a show with quick 125 not out

Cricket
CCD responded in aggressive fashion to an upset loss the previous day.
Andrew Poolman
  • 8 Hours Ago
FNB Eagles batsman Nicol Loftie-Eaton lighted up the first weekend of the 2025 Desert Ice Challenge T20 with a devasting century.

In by far the highest-scoring match of the weekend, Loftie-Eaton blasted eleven sixes and nine fours at the Unam field on his way to an astonishing 125 not out off just 42 balls.

The captain of CCD Tigers opened the batting and reached his fifty off just 20 balls, while his hundred appeared on the board with just the 34th ball he faced.

Earlier, during the opponents Okahandja’s innings, Zacheo van Vuuren showed why he represented Namibia at the ICC Under-19 World Cup in South Africa last year, when he struck 111 not out off 74 balls (13 fours, five sixes) which helped his side to a seemingly competitive total of 180 for four.

However, Loftie-Eaton and his CCD opening partner Ramon Wilmot (52 not out off 28 balls; eight fours, one six) took the shortest attacking route to complete the win after only 11.4 overs.

The Okahandja bowlers took some punishment, with KC Griffiths at 11.0 per over (22/0 in 2.0) the least expensive.

For CCD, Jacques Koekemoer (0/23 in 4) delivered the best economy rate of 5.75 per over (16 dot balls), while Takunda Matimbe took 2/48 in four.



Bowlers to the fore in tense contest and shock result

At WAP Affies field on Sunday afternoon, Green Mambas was sent in to bat first and produced 98/7 in 20 overs, but was overtaken by Unam Zebras Legends (101/5 in 12.5 overs) for a win by five wickets.

Batsman number 8 Johan Coetzee (37 off 37) top-scored for Green Mambas, while Unam Zebras Legends’ star performers were player of the match Muhammad Waqas (3/13 in 4 overs) and batsman Vernon Cloete (24 off 15 balls; 4x4).

• Okahandja won a tense match by one run against Unam Zebras Strikers at Affies field on Sunday morning.

Okahandja (99/8 in 20 overs) had Zacheo van Vuuren to thank for the most runs (28 off 30), before they restricted their opponents to 98/8, with Van Vuuren taking three wickets for 15 in 4 overs.

• CCD opened the tournament on Saturday with a shock loss by nine wickets to Cricket Generation at Unam field.

CCD was bowled out for 114 in 17.2 overs, with Nicol Loftie-Eaton out for 2 while Jacques Koekemoer reached 44 off 36 (5x4 1x6).

Cricket Generation’s spinner Mauritius Ngupita was named player of the match for 3/27 in 4 overs. Unbeaten fifties by Josia Gotlieb (52* off 42) and Dian Neethling (53* off 29) ensured their win.