Hermann joins Sunrisers teammate Breetzke in ODI record books

Jordan Hermann and Matthew Breetzke have shared plenty of memorable moments together already. Now they share a world record.

The pair were instrumental in helping the Sunrisers Eastern Cape to their third Betway SA20 title last season — Hermann claimed the Rising Star award, while Breetzke played a match-winning hand in a thrilling final at Newlands. On Wednesday, in the historic first-ever ODI between South Africa and Namibia at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek, the two Sunrisers teammates found themselves bound together again, this time in the record books.

Hermann's magnificent 150 on his ODI debut - 126 balls, 17 fours and 3 sixes, at a strike rate of 119.05 - equalled the mark Breetzke set against New Zealand in Lahore during the Pakistan Tri-Nation Series in February last year. The two are now the only players in men's ODI history to have scored a century-and-a-half on debut.

Hermann's innings anchored a 190-run second-wicket stand with Tony de Zorzi (72), propelling the Proteas to 348/6 in their 50 overs. Corbin Bosch's brisk unbeaten 39 and a quickfire 33 from Dewald Brevis added late impetus. Namibia's reply never got close, Prenelan Subrayen (4/29) and Kwena Maphaka (2/32) sharing the damage as the hosts closed on 162/8, leaving South Africa victors by 99 runs on the DLS method and 1-0 up in the three-match series. Hermann was named Player of the Match.

For Hermann, matching a landmark set by a teammate he has shared a changing room with for years added a personal layer to the achievement.

"It's very cool to share something with him, actually," Hermann said. "I've played quite a bit with Matty. So it's cool to share a changing room now at the Proteas because of all the success he has had in the ODI format and with the Proteas."

The milestone caps a rapid turnaround for the 24-year-old left-hander, who was left heartbroken by an injury on his T20I debut on South Africa's last tour of New Zealand earlier this year. He has made up for lost time since, following a maiden T20I half-century in last Sunday's tri-series final against Zimbabwe with a maiden ODI cap - and a maiden ODI 150 - in Windhoek.

"I'm glad I can contribute to the team's success. That's always the main thing," he said. "I think if you get man-of-the-match, that just shows you're contributing in good ways and I'll try my best to do that as much as I can."

Hermann had extra reason to savour the occasion: brother Rubin was alongside him in the Proteas XI, and both were watched on from the stands by their parents and Jordan's girlfriend.

"Incredibly special. My girlfriend was also here. I believe she's a bit of a good luck charm. That was very nice," Hermann said.

"My mum and dad were here and it was incredibly special for them and not only them but for me for the hours they've put in. My mum being the psychologist, my dad being a coach my whole life as well. 

"I'm incredibly grateful for the role they've played in my life and I'm pretty sure they're very chuffed with the two of their three sons — and the other son is also doing very well for himself."

Breetzke followed up his 150 with 83 in his next innings. Hermann will be hoping he can go one better with a successive century in the second ODI in Windhoek on Friday.