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Dewald Brevis Fires Record Century as South Africa Crush Australia in T20 Thriller
Young Proteas Star Rewrites History Books in Darwin
In a breathtaking display of power hitting, 22-year-old Dewald Brevis smashed an unbeaten 125 off just 56 deliveries to propel South Africa to a commanding 53-run victory over Australia in Darwin on Friday. The sensational knock – now the highest individual T20I score for South Africa – leveled the three-match series at 1-1 ahead of Saturday’s decider.
A Masterclass in Clean Hitting
Brevis’ innings was nothing short of spectacular, combining raw power with technical precision. The young right-hander peppered the boundaries with 12 fours and cleared the ropes eight times in a display that left Australian bowlers searching for answers. His trademark follow-through – keeping his head down until well after contact – became a familiar sight as ball after ball disappeared into the night sky.
“It was one of those days where everything clicked,” Brevis said after the match. “The plan was simple – watch the ball and react. When you’re in that zone, the game slows down.”
Breaking Records, Defying Expectations
The Johannesburg-born prodigy surpassed Faf du Plessis’ previous South African record of 119 (also off 56 balls) set against West Indies in 2015. What made Brevis’ innings particularly remarkable was his dominance against spin, taking Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa to task with six of his eight sixes coming against the slower bowlers.
Australian captain Mitchell Marsh could only watch in admiration. “When someone’s hitting them that cleanly, you just have to tip your hat. We tried everything – different lengths, variations – but he was on another level tonight.”
Supporting Cast Seals the Deal
While Brevis stole the show, South Africa’s bowlers ensured his heroics weren’t wasted. Corbin Bosch (3-20) and teenage sensation Kwena Maphaka (3-57) tore through Australia’s lineup, restricting them to 165 despite a fighting 50 from Tim David. The visitors’ fielding matched their intensity with several spectacular catches lighting up the Marrara Oval.
Series Poised for Epic Finale
With the series now perfectly balanced, Saturday’s finale promises fireworks. Both teams will be looking to build momentum ahead of the T20 World Cup, and if Brevis’ form is anything to go by, Australian bowlers might be having sleepless nights. As cricket fans worldwide are asking: is this the arrival of South Africa’s next great batting superstar?
The final match begins at 1:40 PM local time (14:40 SAST) with weather conditions expected to mirror Friday’s perfect batting track. One thing’s certain – all eyes will be on the young man they call “Baby AB” as he looks to continue his dream run.
Source: AllAfrica
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