'I didn't want to give Namibia a sniff' - Jordan Hermann reflects on 150 on ODI debut

Jordan Hermann opened the batting for South Africa in the first ODI against Namibia on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek. The match was rain-shortened, and South Africa won by 99 runs. Hermann's performance on debut marked a significant milestone in his international career, coming after six T20 appearances for the national team.

Hermann scored 150 off 126 balls, hitting 17 fours and three sixes. He reached his fifty off 61 balls and completed his first ODI hundred off 93 balls in the 31st over. His innings ended when he was caught at deep-midwicket by Louren Steenkamp off Ruben Trumpelmann in the 42nd over, with Trumpelmann taking 4 wickets for 68 runs. Hermann reflected on his aggressive approach during the innings.

"It's incredibly special. I've been taught my whole life that you don't just get a hundred, you try to push it further and further. I think that was also what the conditions were asking, so not just get a hundred but push on a bit. I didn't want to give Namibia a sniff because they're a good team and they'd get leverage to work with [if I got out]. I was trying to kill all sense of any bad patches of play that they can capitalise on. [I'm] chuffed that I could do that and get us in a winning position," said Hermann as quoted by Cricinfo.

Hermann's 150 placed him in rare company on ODI debut. He became only the second batter to reach 150 on ODI debut, drawing level with Matthew Breetzke, who scored 150 off 148 balls against New Zealand at Lahore on February 10, 2025. Prior to Breetzke, the record was held by Desmond Haynes, who scored 148 against Australia in 1978.

The fortune that shaped his innings

Hermann benefited from a crucial moment of fortune during his innings. When he was on 30, he was short of his ground completing a single and faced a direct hit to the non-striker's end, but was not given out. With no DRS available, that reprieve proved decisive. He made full use of the opportunity, ultimately costing Namibia 120 runs and contributing significantly to South Africa's victory.

Hermann's partnership with Tony de Zorzi proved match-defining for South Africa. De Zorzi scored 72 off 84 balls, and the pair added 190 runs off 167 balls for the second wicket. South Africa reached 275 for 3 in the 42nd over before Hermann's dismissal. The partnership came after South Africa had been 27 for 1 in the seventh over, meaning the two batters had steadied the innings from a position of early vulnerability.

"We communicated well. It was a tricky stage, I think if we lose two wickets there, that gives them a sniff. Tony has played a lot of international cricket as well. There wasn't any pressure to be honest. We said this is what we're gonna do and we stuck at it," said Hermann.

Hermann was one of three ODI debutants in the South African squad for this match, alongside Connor Esterhuizen and Duan Jansen. His older brother Rubin also played in the match, appearing in his second ODI. Rubin was dismissed lbw by Trumpelmann for 8 runs, meaning both brothers featured in South Africa's opening ODI against Namibia.