Jordan Hermann marked his one-day international debut with 150 off 126 balls for South Africa against Namibia in Windhoek. The innings equalled the all-time world record for the highest score by a batter on ODI debut. It was his first appearance in the format.
A single, then out — 150 reached and gone in a ball
Put in to bat, South Africa lost an early wicket before Hermann settled with Tony de Zorzi. The pair added 190 for the second wicket off 167 balls, de Zorzi making 70.
Hermann reached his first fifty off 61 balls, then accelerated, taking his next two half-centuries off just 32 deliveries each. He struck 17 fours and three sixes.
He brought up 150 with a single in the covers. From the very next ball he fell, caught at deep-midwicket by Louren Steenkamp off Ruben Trumpelmann, who finished with 4-68. South Africa closed on 348-6.
Level with Breetzke, ahead of a chasing pack led by Haynes
The mark drew Hermann level with compatriot Matthew Breetzke, who made 150 off 148 balls against New Zealand in February 2025. Behind them stands West Indies great Desmond Haynes, whose 148 came on debut in 1978. This was also the first ODI between South Africa and Namibia since 2003.
The 24-year-old spoke plainly about his intent afterwards. "I've been taught my whole life that you don't just get a hundred, you try to push it further and further," he told reporters. "I didn't want to give Namibia a sniff because they're a good team."
Namibia's reply was cut by rain to 31 overs and a revised target, and they closed on 162-8 to lose by 99 runs. Hermann, one of three debutants in a rotated South Africa side, was not named for the coming series against Australia. His story in the format has begun with a record.
