Proteas batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius has hammered the highest T20 innings ever, blasting a record 188 not out for his domestic South African team in a domestic match in Bloemfontein.
Pretorius recorded his landmark knock off just 79 balls for the Titans against the Knights in a domestic CSA T20 Challenge fixture on Friday, launching 13 sixes and 15 fours in an incredible knock.
He passed the previous top mark of 175 not out by former West Indies international Chris Gayle for the Royal Challengers Bangalore against the Pune Warriors in the Indian Premier League in 2013.
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The 20-year-old Pretorius, who played in the T20 series in Australia last year, was well on course for the first ever double ton in the format but ran out of overs as the Titans finished their innings on 3-267.
The left-hander, who’s been in form of late but has also suffered injury problems, hadn’t played a match since he scored his maiden T20I hundred, a 53-ball 101 for South Africa in a T20 international against Namibia last month.
He reached his first fifty in 24 balls, taking just 16 more balls to get to his century before moving on to 150 off 158 deliveries.
Pretorius also tied with the Australian duo of Aaron Finch and Marcus Stoinis for the longest innings ever played in men’s T20s in terms of balls faced.
As news of Pretorius’s feat filtered through, fans were stunned.
JN Sport said: “An absolute superstar, the sky is the limit with this kid. SA have an absolute gem in Lhuan-dre Pretorius.”
“Lhuan-dre Pretorius 188 runs are absolute carnage to watch ❤️❤️,” another fan said.
And another: “Proteas’s own starboy Lhuan-dre Pretorius a multi-format legend in the making.”
And another: “South Africa has found a serious superstar. 🌟🔥
BatnBallHQ said: “HISTORY CREATED IN SOUTH AFRICA!🔥Lhuan-dre Pretorius smashes 188 off 79* — the highest individual score in T20 cricket! ABSOLUTE MADNESS.”
