‘Ridiculous’: South African prodigy’s record-breaking demolition stuns cricket world

This 19-year-old prodigy has shattered the record books in South Africa, smacking the third-highest individual T20 score in history.

Dewald Brevis, remember the name.

The South African cricket prodigy has shattered the record books, plundering 162 off 57 balls, the third-highest individual T20 score in history, against the Knights at Potchefstroom’s Senwes Park on Monday evening.

Brevis guided the Titans to 3/271 from their 20 overs, another record, cracking 13 boundaries and 13 sixes in his 97-minute CSA T20 Challenge demolition.

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The 19-year-old reached his fifty in just 18 balls before racing to triple figures in 35 deliveries — the fifth-fastest hundred in T20 cricket history.

He then passed 150 on his 52nd delivery at the crease to break the record set by West Indies legend Chris Gayle in 2013, who managed the rare feat in 53 balls.

Brevis was eventually dismissed by Knights seamer Gerald Coetzee in the 20th over, top-edging a low full toss to the deep point boundary rider.

Despite narrowly missing out on the all-time record — Gayle’s 175 not out against the Pune Warriors during the 2013 Indian Premier League — the teenager comfortably bettered the highest individual T20 score by a South African, previously Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 140 against the Kolkata Knight Riders earlier this year.

Dewald Brevis, take a bow. Picture: Instagram/titanscricket

“It's a very special day,” Brevis told Supersport after his career-best knock.

“A few things haven’t really sunk in yet. I am so grateful for the talent that God gave me. It’s really special and really lovely to be able to live my life to the fullest by playing cricket.”

Brevis, who has been bestowed the “Baby AB” moniker, modelled his batting style around the South African cricket icon by watching AB de Villers videos on social media.

“From young — and still now — I watch lots of videos even on Instagram about AB and all these guys, (as to) how they hit the ball,” Brevis continued.

“And I like AB’s natural bat swing. And back in your head, you get a visual of how the ball goes, how the bat falls and everything. So I try to watch as most as much as possible, and to just also be myself.

“Even as a young boy, I have always wanted to hit the ball as far as possible.

“And for me, from the start it’s always (about being) positive and fearless. You don’t want to go on the reckless side, but just play ball by ball, stay positive and be in the moment. I just stayed in the moment.

“I’m always looking to hit boundaries. I think that’s a very important thing in playing fearlessly and aggressively is to be in a very strong position. And if the ball is there, you take it on.”

Dewald Brevis: 162 off 57 balls. Ridiculous display. #CSAT20Challenge

— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) October 31, 2022

Bloody hell! Nevermind the #T20WorldCup in the morning (for us Saffers), it's the cricket in the afternoon we're watching. Dewald Brevis smashed 162 off 56 balls and @Titans_Cricket have posted the highest T20 total in South Africa: 271 for 3. Yhu! #cricket

— Firdose Moonda (@FirdoseM) October 31, 2022

Dewald Brevis. No need to say more

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) October 31, 2022

Highest individual scores in T20 history

175* (66) — Chris Gayle vs Pune Warriors, 2013

172 (76) — Aaron Finch vs Zimbabwe, 2018

162* (71) — Hamilton Masakadza vs Mashonaland Eagles, 2016

162* (62) — Hazratullah Zazai vs Ireland, 2019

162 (57) — Dewald Brevis vs Knights, 2022

Brevis’ heroics at Senwes Park were far from over.

During the Knights run chase, he claimed a stunning catch on the mid-wicket boundary rope to help remove opener Jacques Snyman for 28 in the seventh over.

Brevis also claimed a wicket with his leg spin, dismissing Gerald Coetzee for 37 (11) and finishing with figures of 1/36 from two overs.

The Knights ultimately mustered 9/230 from their 20 overs, finishing 42 runs short of the target.

Smashes a 57-ball 162 and then takes this super cool boundary catch with the utmost nonchalance.

Dewald Brevis era loading...#CSAT20Challengepic.twitter.com/kYPGnW6R5I

— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) October 31, 2022

Brevis, who is yet to make his international debut, represented the Mumbai Indian during this year’s IPL, scoring 161 runs in seven knocks for the franchise.

During this year’s Under-19 World Cup in the West Indies, he finished as the tournament’s highest run-scorer with 506 runs at 84.33, including two centuries and three fifties in six matches, breaking Shikhar Dhawan’s record for most runs in an Under-19 World Cup tournament.

“AB is my childhood hero,” Brevis told the Indian Express earlier this year.

“I grew up close to SuperSport Park. I often watched him play from the grass embankment at SuperSport Park. And he is my mentor too.

“My cricket and batting style developed naturally. I never had formal coaching for the first couple of years. I always watched AB playing on TV. It is a massive honour to be compared with AB, but I still have a lot to learn.”

Brevis will represent MI Cape Town in this summer’s inaugural SA20.

Originally published as ‘Ridiculous’: South African prodigy’s record-breaking demolition stuns cricket world