South African batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius has rewritten the men's T20 record books after smashing an unbeaten 188 off 79 balls for the Titans against the Knights in the CSA T20 Challenge.
Pretorius produced a remarkable display of power hitting at the Mangaung Oval, striking 15 fours and 13 sixes at a strike rate of 237.97.
His innings helped the Titans post 267/3 in 20 overs and saw him surpass Chris Gayle's long-standing record for the highest individual score in men's professional T20 cricket.
Pretorius Surpasses Chris Gayle's 13-Year-Old Record
Before Pretorius's extraordinary innings, the record belonged to West Indies great Chris Gayle.
Gayle scored an unbeaten 175 off 66 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India during the 2013 IPL.
That innings had remained the benchmark for more than 13 years.
Pretorius moved past Gayle's score when he reached 176 and continued attacking until the end of the Titans' innings.
Highest Individual Scores in Men's T20 Cricket
Batter | Score | Balls | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
Lhuan-dre Pretorius | 188* | 79 | Titans |
Chris Gayle | 175* | 66 | RCB |
Aaron Finch | 172 | 76 | Australia |
Dewald Brevis | 162* | 57 | Titans |
Pretorius's 188* now stands as the highest individual score in men's T20 cricket.
Pretorius Hits 188* Off 79 Balls
Pretorius's innings was built around an extraordinary combination of power and consistency.
Pretorius's Key Numbers
Runs: 188*
Balls: 79
Fours: 15
Sixes: 13
Strike Rate: 237.97
Boundary Runs: 138
Team Total: 267/3
The left-hander found the boundary 28 times, with 15 fours and 13 sixes accounting for 138 of his 188 runs.
He remained unbeaten throughout the innings as the Titans finished with a huge total.
Pretorius Misses Out on Double Century
With the innings progressing at such an extraordinary rate, a double century briefly appeared possible.
However, Pretorius ran out of deliveries before he could reach 200.
He finished unbeaten on 188, leaving the Titans with a total of 267/3 after their 20 overs.
Captain Donovan Ferreira provided further acceleration at the other end, finishing unbeaten on 29 from 11 balls.
The Knights were set a target of 268 runs.
Titans Post 267/3 Against Knights
Pretorius's record-breaking knock formed the foundation of the Titans' massive total.
Titans: 267/3 in 20 overs
Pretorius contributed 188* while Ferreira added an unbeaten 29 from 11 deliveries.
The total gave the Knights a formidable chase and underlined the scale of Pretorius's contribution.
Pretorius Breaks Dewald Brevis' South African T20 Record
Pretorius also moved past his Titans teammate Dewald Brevis, who previously held the record for the highest individual score by a South African in T20 cricket.
Brevis had scored 162 off 57 balls* against the Knights in 2022.
Interestingly, both record-breaking innings came against the same opposition.
Pretorius's 188 now represents the highest individual T20 score by a South African batter.
Pretorius Was Already in Excellent Form
The record-breaking performance follows a period of strong form for the young South African batter.
Pretorius recently scored 101 off 53 balls against Namibia in a T20I, becoming the youngest player from an ICC Full Member nation to score a T20I century at the time.
His performances across international and domestic cricket have continued to highlight his development as a top-order batter.
Who Is Lhuan-dre Pretorius?
Pretorius is a young South African wicketkeeper-batter who has rapidly established himself as one of the country's exciting batting prospects.
He has represented South Africa, Titans, Rajasthan Royals, Paarl Royals, South Africa A and South Africa Under-19, among other teams.
He also plays for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.
His aggressive approach at the top of the order has made him an increasingly prominent name in South African cricket.
Highest Individual Score in Men's T20 Cricket
Pretorius's record-breaking innings has reshaped the top of the men's T20 individual scoring list.
Rank | Batter | Score |
|---|---|---|
1 | Lhuan-dre Pretorius | 188* |
2 | Chris Gayle | 175* |
3 | Aaron Finch | 172 |
4 | Dewald Brevis | 162* |
Gayle's 175 had stood as the benchmark since his famous IPL innings in April 2013.
Pretorius has now moved beyond that mark with a 188-run unbeaten effort.
Why Pretorius's 188* Is Significant
The scale of Pretorius's innings is highlighted by both the number of runs and the speed at which he scored them.
He faced only 79 balls but produced 188 runs, including 28 boundaries.
The innings also came in the CSA T20 Challenge, demonstrating the level of explosive batting being produced in South Africa's domestic cricket structure.
Breaking a record that had stood since Gayle's iconic 2013 IPL performance adds another significant milestone to Pretorius's rapidly developing career.
Pretorius's Record-Breaking Knock: Key Stats
Lhuan-dre Pretorius: 188* off 79 balls
Fours: 15
Sixes: 13
Strike Rate: 237.97
Titans: 267/3
Previous Record: Chris Gayle – 175* off 66 balls
New Record: Highest individual score in men's T20 cricket
Conclusion
Lhuan-dre Pretorius has produced one of the most remarkable individual innings in men's T20 cricket.
His unbeaten 188 off 79 balls for the Titans against the Knights surpassed Chris Gayle's famous 175* for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2013 IPL.
With 15 fours and 13 sixes, Pretorius scored at a strike rate of 237.97 and powered the Titans to 267/3.
At just 20 years old, the South African wicketkeeper-batter has already produced a T20I century and now holds the record for the highest individual score in men's T20 cricket.
His 188* is another major milestone in what is quickly becoming a notable young career.
FAQs
Who scored 188 in T20 cricket?
Lhuan-dre Pretorius scored an unbeaten 188 for the Titans against the Knights in the CSA T20 Challenge.
How many balls did Pretorius face?
Pretorius faced 79 balls and remained unbeaten on 188.
How many sixes did Lhuan-dre Pretorius hit?
He hit 13 sixes during his record-breaking innings.
How many fours did Pretorius hit?
Pretorius hit 15 fours.
Whose T20 record did Pretorius break?
He surpassed Chris Gayle's 175*, scored for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India in the 2013 IPL.
What is the highest individual score in men's T20 cricket?
Lhuan-dre Pretorius's 188* is now the highest individual score in men's T20 cricket.
What was the Titans' score?
The Titans finished on 267/3 in 20 overs, with Pretorius unbeaten on 188.
