Dewald Brevis smashes highest Proteas T20I score v Australia
Rising star Dewald Brevis proved his undeniable talent as he smashed his way to the highest ever T20 International score for the Proteas, hammering an unbeaten 125 off just 56 balls in the second T20I against Australia in Darwin on Tuesday afternoon.
Brevis arrived at the crease with the Proteas on 44/2 in the fifth over and led the batting effort, as they cruised to their biggest T20I total against the Aussies, of 218/7, which should give them a great chance of levelling the series after losing the first game on Sunday.
It was a terrific knock from the 22-year-old in just his ninth T20I, that featured eight sixes and 12 fours, and saw him eclipse former Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis' previous best of 119 against the West Indies in 2015.
Next best
The next best score for the Proteas was Tristan Stubbs 31 off 22 balls (3×4), and it was their fourth wicket stand of 127 off 57 balls, that was dominated by Brevis, that set the Proteas on their way to their mammoth total.
Speaking at the break Brevis said: 'There's not a lot of feelings. But at this moment I just want to give God all the glory. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't have done this. It is all him, it was a lot of fun, everyone contributed, and Stubbs did so well with me.
'It was fun out there and I can't really describe it. I was just watching the ball. I think it is important to just watch the ball, be very still and not to force anything, just let it come (to you).
'That's how I play from ball one. That's my brand and that's how I want to play. But you have to adapt to the conditions. It's not to say you are going to hit every ball, you still have to play it on merit. So it is all about playing it on merit and if it is there to be hit it's there to be hit.'
Asked about breaking Du Plessis' record Brevis added: 'I am just extremely grateful.'
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Dewald Brevis raises his bat to the heavens after reaching his maiden T20I century against Australia in Darwin on Tuesday. Picture: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix EVER since Dewald Brevis first stole the spotlight when he topped the run-scorers charts at the ICC Under-19 World Cup he's had to live with the moniker 'Baby AB' in reference to Proteas legend and his childhood hero AB de Villiers. But three years later on a balmy night in Darwin, in the Northern Territory of Australia, Brevis lifted the immense weight of expectation off his shoulders to become his own man through an innings for the ages. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Brevis eclipsed everything De Villiers achieved in a Proteas T20I shirt – and in fact anyone that's ever worn it – by booming an undefeated 125 not out off 56 balls (12X4, 8X6) to power the Proteas to series-levelling 53-run victory over Australia. 'I've always believed that this is where I need to be and where I will be,' he said. 'So, I never had any doubt. It's all about cricket, how things work out. It is a roller coaster, you have your ups, you have your downs, and yeah, I've never ever doubted myself. This is just for me the start.' The second-quickest T20I hundred from a South African player! Dewald Brevis, take a bow 👏#AUSvSA — (@cricketcomau) August 12, 2025 Records aplenty were left in the dust at the Marrara Stadium. Brevis is now the holder of South Africa's highest individual T20I score, having surpassed Faf du Plessis' 119 not out against the West Indies a decade ago, the second-fastest T20I hundred off 41 balls and the youngest South African to hit a century in the shortest format. The beauty lies in the simplicity of Brevis' batting. He hits the ball long and hard, has quick feet, quicker hands and an uncomplicated method which comprises largely drives and pulls of equal ferocity. Ironically, the first time he attempted anything out of De Villiers' 360° manual off the first ball after he reached three-figures, he promptly fell over in a mess attempting a ramp shot. Sixty-six runs were struck straight down the ground – with a half dozen sixes blasted in the 'V' – and when the Australian seamers tried to go short, he had enough good fortune on the night to top-edge a few more boundaries over the wicket-keeper's head. 'To be honest, I think that's just my natural way of hitting,' Brevis said, about his trademark head down pose after striking the ball. 'I've hit thousands of balls and I just want to go out there, enjoy it and have fun and just watch it and then if it's there, it happens. So, I don't try to do it, I'm just trying to be myself and have fun. Dewald Brevis 125(56)* vs Australia | 2nd T20I, 2025 - Darwin | Ball By Ball Highlights + Post Innings Interview — PCT Replays 2.0 (@ReplaysPCT) August 12, 2025 'I always knew I was happy if spin arrived, so I would have just watched it and maximise every single ball, but in a way I felt like I'm happy with the seam because the wicket was nice. 'I enjoyed it. I was just in the moment to be honest. I was happy with whatever bowler it was. If it was pace on seam or spin or anything.' Brevis formed a 126-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs (31 off 22 balls) that set up the Proteas' highest-ever T20I score against Australia, and was grateful to have his more experienced partner feed him the strike to maintain the momentum through his innings. 'Stubbo played very well, he's a boundary hitter as well. He could have easily have just striked as well, but he's been on this level quite longer and he's got experience, so I think he really identified that moment,' Brevis said. The Proteas' bowlers backed up Brevis' pyrotechnics show with another promising Proteas young talent Kwena Maphaka claiming 3/57 to follow up his 4/20 from the previous game, while Corbin Bosch bounced back with a career-best 3/20 to bowl out Australia for 165. The series decider will be in Cairns on Saturday.
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