Bloemfontein: South Africa’s 20-year-old batting sensation Lhuan-dre Pretorius has rewritten the record books by breaking Chris Gayle‘s long-standing record for the highest individual score in men’s T20 cricket.

Pretorius smashed an unbeaten 188 off just 79 balls for the Titans against the Knights in the CSA T20 Challenge at Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein. His extraordinary innings included 15 fours and 13 sixes, coming at a strike rate of 237.97.

The South African left-hander surpassed Gayle’s famous 175 not out off 66 balls, scored for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India in the 2013 Indian Premier League. Gayle’s record had stood for more than 13 years before Pretorius finally moved past it.

Pretorius produces breathtaking knock

Pretorius opened the innings for the Titans and immediately put the Knights’ bowling attack under pressure.

He reached his half-century from 24 balls and accelerated rapidly after getting set. His century came from only 40 deliveries, while he reached 150 from 58 balls.

The 20-year-old continued attacking until the final delivery of the Titans’ innings, finishing unbeaten on 188. He fell just 12 runs short of becoming the first batter to score a double century in a men’s T20 innings.

Of his 188 runs, 138 came through boundaries, highlighting the extraordinary power and consistency of his strokeplay.

His 13 sixes also underlined the scale of the assault. The innings came at a strike rate of nearly 238, making it one of the most dominant individual performances in T20 cricket.

Gayle’s iconic record finally falls

Gayle’s 175 not out had been regarded as one of the most remarkable innings in T20 history.

Playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India in Bengaluru in 2013, the West Indies legend smashed 175 from 66 balls. His innings featured 13 fours and 17 sixes, and he also reached his century from only 30 balls.

That knock had remained the highest individual score in men’s T20 cricket for more than 13 years.

Pretorius finally moved beyond the mark with his 176th run before adding another 12 runs to finish on 188 not out.

The record is particularly significant because Gayle’s innings had survived the rapid evolution of T20 batting across franchise leagues and international cricket.

Titans post 267 for 3

Pretorius’ assault powered the Titans to a huge 267/3 in 20 overs.

He received early support from Sinethemba Qeshile, with the opening pair putting together 112 runs before Qeshile was dismissed for 14 off 10 balls.

Titans captain Donovan Ferreira then provided late acceleration, finishing unbeaten on 29 from just 11 deliveries.

The Knights’ bowling attack struggled throughout the innings, with the Titans maintaining a run rate of more than 13 runs an over.

Pretorius’ 188 not out formed the overwhelming bulk of the Titans’ total and gave the Knights a daunting target of 268.

Knights unable to match the onslaught

The Knights began their chase aggressively but could not maintain the required pace.

The visitors were eventually bowled out for 143 in 17.2 overs, handing the Titans a commanding 124-run victory.

The result meant Pretorius’ individual brilliance was complemented by a comprehensive team performance.

The Titans’ bowlers were able to defend the enormous target despite the Knights making a positive start to their innings.

Another milestone for Pretorius

The record-breaking innings adds another major achievement to Pretorius’ rapidly developing career.

The left-handed wicketkeeper-batter has emerged as one of South Africa’s most promising young players. His performances in domestic cricket and the SA20 have already brought him international recognition.

Pretorius also enjoyed an impressive run of form before his record-breaking innings. He had scored 101 against Namibia in a T20 international and had previously made 94 for South Africa, continuing a sequence of high-impact performances.

His latest performance, however, represents a significant leap, as he has now moved to the top of the all-time men’s T20 individual scoring list.

South African record also broken

Pretorius’ innings was not only a world record in men’s T20 cricket but also surpassed the previous highest individual score by a South African batter in the format.

That record was held by Titans teammate Dewald Brevis, who scored 162 off 57 balls against the Knights in 2022.

Pretorius’ 188 therefore established a new benchmark for both South African domestic T20 cricket and the men’s T20 format globally.

Young star continues rapid rise

At just 20, Pretorius is already building a reputation as one of the most exciting young batters in world cricket.

His ability to combine power hitting with a high scoring rate has made him a valuable player across formats. The latest innings demonstrated not only his ability to clear the boundary but also his capacity to maintain an extraordinary scoring rate for an extended period.

The record also comes at a time when T20 cricket is continuing to push the limits of batting aggression. Franchise leagues and domestic competitions around the world have produced increasingly high scores, but Gayle’s 175 had remained untouched since 2013.

Pretorius’ 188 has now raised the benchmark by 13 runs.