Dewald Brevis breaks T20 record as South Africa crushes Australia

The Australian

2 days ago

A ruthless South Africa has dealt Australia a crushing 53-run defeat in Darwin off the back of a record-breaking knock by Dewald Brevis.
In the second T20I of the five-match white ball series, the visitors punished Australia's below-par bowling efforts to level the series 1-1.
The win follows South Africa's highest total against Australia in a T20I (7/218) and the highest total scored by a batter in Australia — Brevis' 125 not out besting Shane Watson's unbeaten 124 against India in 2016.
Dewald Brevis celebrates after reaching his century at Marrara Stadium in Darwin. Picture: Getty Images
The hosts elected to bowl after winning the toss and quickly piled on the pressure with the visitors wading water at 3/57 in the seventh over.
However, the efforts of 22-year-old Brevis shocked the crowd with a blistering maiden century in which he made 12 fours and cleared the rope eight times.
His punishing knock included 40 runs from 10 balls punishing Glenn Maxwell and Josh Hazlewood in particular in the 12th and 13th over.
Brevis' innings was intertwined with luck when dropped by substitute fielder Matthew Kuhnemann at deep wicket on 56, but steered by power hitting which captivated the Top End crowd.
Talking about his record-breaking performance Brevis said his big-hitting aggressive style comes naturally to him.
'That's just my natural way of hitting,' he said.
'I just want to go out there and enjoy it and have fun.
'If it's there it happens. I don't try to do it, I'm just trying to be myself, have fun and watch the ball.'
Brevis thanked the work of his partner Tristan Stubbs, who like Brevis is a compulsive boundary hitter, however chose to let the young player take centre stage.
'I'm extremely grateful,' he said.
'Stubbo played very well. He could have easily probably (just) striked as well, but he's been on this level longer … he really identified that moment and helped me.
'It's you alone out there, it's you partner that helps.'
Brevis also said he was lost for words having bested Proteas great Faf du Plessis' 119.
'It's obviously a privilege and honour,' he said.
'There's not a lot of words, I'm just extremely grateful … excited for what's ahead.'
Dewald Brevis says his big-hitting aggressive style comes naturally to him. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin
As for the Australians it was the efforts of the injured Tim David (50) that topped the scoring charts for the second match in a row following his first game heroics.
David steadied the ship for a while alongside his skipper Mitch Marsh (22) in a near half ton stand that brought some parity to the innings.
His blistering knock, including four sixes with another bouncing off the Marrara Stadium roof, came to an end when he toed the ball Kagiso Rabada.
And when Maxwell (16) was sent packing from a fine Brevis catch in the following over Australia were well and truly on the back foot.
From there the Aussies all fell quite quickly, all out for 165 in the 18th, bringing their record nine-straight win streak to a dramatic end.
Australia's best in the field Ben Dwarshuis (2-24) said the bowling unit were lost for ideas on how to contain Brevis having 'rattled through' a few plans of attack.
'(The) wicket was a little bit slow and a little bit low and a bit tough at times,' he said.
'He batted superbly and I feel like as a bowling unit we rattled through a fair few plans and tried a few different things.
'So we'll have to go back and reflect on that and see which ones worked and the ones that didn't work.'
The quick also shedded some insight on the status of David who appeared to injure his shoulder out in the field.
'I've not spoken to him since he batted, I think he was keen to field,' Dwarshuis said.
'As a precautionary measure we pulled him off and yeah, he didn't look too hindered out there.'
PRETORIUS' BIZARRE RUN-OUT
South Africa's teenage first drop Lhuan-dre Pretorius won't be in his coaches' good books after seemingly giving up his wicket.
Facing his 10th delivery in the seventh over of the innings Pretorius mistimed an off break length ball from Glenn Maxwell, stumbling a few feet out of his crease.
Instead of turning on a dime and diving back over the line Pretorius watched Alex Carey fumble the ball before taking off the bails with an outstretched glove.
A NIGHT OF ODDITIES
A bit of everything was going on across both innings.
Tim David, the standout in the first match of the series, injured his right shoulder in the sixth over after a diving attempt to save a boundary.
David left the field of play only to return to the field a couple of overs later, to then leave again as soon after, sitting out the remainder of the inning.
Mitch Owen was another who had an eventful night, hit on the grill and was gifted an extra life at the crease.
Owen was on the receiving end of a quick Kagiso Rabada delivery that struck the backside of his bat before finishing in the middle of his grill.
A few overs later Owen was then given an extra life by the cricketing gods as the ball hit the stumps, causing the lights to go off, before landing back down in place.
He was bowled out not long after, this time the stumps staying out.
Alex Carey had a night to remember in his first T20 since 2021, taking the run-out of Pretorius in strange circumstances the South Australian's bat snapped at the handle.
Carey then blasted the ensuing ball over the rope with his new blade.
As for the South Africans it was the work of Nqaba Peter that nearly delivered us another Herschelle Gibbs like moment.
Peter took the stunning catch of Cam Green however it was what he did during his celebration that drew suspicion.
Having dived to catch the ball he quickly leapt to his feet still in control of the ball. In the process of throwing the ball in the air it spilled out of his hand onto the ground.
However, he was given the benefit of the doubt after review sending Green on his way.
Darcy Jennings
Sports reporter
Darcy Jennings is a sports journalist for the NT News and the News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom team, including CODE Sports. From Brisbane, Darcy previously worked at The Chronicle, Toowoomba.
Darcy Jennings