Stats: Cameron Delport scores the first ever T20 hundred in Afghanistan

South African all-rounder Cameron Delport recorded the first ever century in the Afghanistan’s T20 league, the Shpageeza Cricket League (SCL). Though SCL T20 was held in the previous years, this is the first edition after the Afghans attained the official status for their domestic tournaments and included overseas stars as well. Thus, Delport’s century turned out to be the first in Afghanistan in Twenty20 cricket.

Playing for the Boost Defenders in the 6th game of the tournament, Delport scored 100 off just 44 balls with 11 fours and seven sixes before getting out off the bowling of the Mis Ainak Knights’ captain Mohammad Nabi. With the help of his 3rd T20 century, Delport completed 3000 runs in this format.

Delport century made Afghanistan the 16th nation to witness a T20 hundred. Six of the 16 countries including Afghanistan have seen the 1st T20 hundred in the country recorded by an overseas player. The first century ever recorded in Twenty20 cricket was in England by the Australian Ian Harvey. Namibia, Bangladesh, U.A.E and the USA are the other three countries in which the 1st T20 century was scored by an overseas player.

First century in Twenty20 cricket in each country:

The left-hander brought up his century off just 42 balls; the 3rd fastest ever in Twenty20 cricket by a South African. David Miller holds the record for scoring the fastest century by a South African in the T20 format as he recorded a 38-ball hundred for the IPL team Kings XI Punjab in 2013.

Delport completed his fifty in just 18 balls and was on 75 off 25 balls with Miller’s record at stake. However, he faced quite a few dots balls and ended up behind Miller, Loots Bosman, and Henry Davids to settle with the 3rd position. His innings helped Boost Defenders to record the first ever 200+ total of the tournament.

Fastest centuries in Twenty20 cricket by South African players:

(Stats as on September 13, 2017).