Dewald Brevis' record-breaking ton powers Proteas to mammoth victory over Australia

Dewald Brevis kept the Proteas’ hopes alive in the T20I series against Australia with a record-breaking century in Darwin on Tuesday.

Brevis’ blistering unbeaten 125 off 56 balls, including 12 fours and eight sixes powered the Proteas to 218/7, before the bowlers cleaned up the hosts for 165 to level the series at 1-1 heading into Saturday’s decider in Cairns. 

The 22-year-old reached his half-century in 25 balls before accelerating to a century in just 41. 

It was a masterful display of straight hitting with Brevis favouring the long strike down to the ground. A feature of the innings was the way Brevis kept his head down at the moment of impact before raising his head only once the ball had cleared the boundary. 

Brevis rebuilt the Proteas’ innings after the visitors had slipped to 57/3 after both openers Ryan Rickelton (14), Aiden Markram (18) and Lhuan-dre Pretorius (10) had been sent back to the dugout. 

It was a staggering switch of momentum with Brevis launching into a flurry of sixes as he forged a 126-run partnership off just 57 balls with Tristan Stubbs (31) for the fifth wicket.

Stubbs hasn’t quite found his timing as yet Down Under, but has still managed to play a definitive role in a couple of major partnerships across the two matches.

The Proteas still needed to bowl well, and particularly catch better, after their performance in the first match a couple of days ago.

Pretorius and the recalled Nqaba Peter showed the way with the former holding onto to a steepler on the boundary to dismiss the dangerous Travis Head before Peter dived beautifully to his right to end Cameron Green’s innings. 

The Proteas’ chances were always going to hinge on Tim David’s stay at the crease. The big-hitting right-hander had virtually single-handedly won the first match, and seemed set to launch another attack on the Proteas’ bowling unit. 

History seemed to be repeating itself when Stubbs - like he did in the first match - again spilled a David chance.

But fortunately for the Proteas it was not as impactful with Kagiso Rabada returning to the attack and forcing David (50 off 24 balls) to hole out to Rassie van der Dussen at cover shortly after reaching his second successive half-century of the series. 

Albeit erring on the expensive side on Tuesday evening, Kwena Maphaka (3/57) once again showed his invaluable wicket-taking abilities in the middle overs as he raced to seven wickets in the series.

Corbin Bosch responded after an off night two days ago with a career-best 3/20 to close out a comprehensive victory for the Proteas.

2nd T20I, Darwin

South Africa: 218/7 (Brevis 125*, Stubbs 31, Dwarshuis 2/24)

Australia: 165 all out (David 50, Carey 26, Bosch 3/20, Maphaka 3/57)

South Africa won by 53 runs, series level at 1-1