Dewald Brevis lit up the Marrara Stadium with a dazzling display of power-hitting to lead South Africa to a 53-run win over Australia, squaring the T20I series 1-1 and setting up a decider in Cairns on Saturday. The 21-year-old smashed the highest score by a South African in men’s T20Is, an unbeaten 125 off 56 balls, in an innings that also brought him the country’s second-fastest T20I hundred – reaching the landmark in just 41 balls.
Australia, chasing 219, threatened briefly through Tim David’s belligerent 50 from 24 balls, but South Africa’s bowlers – and a much-improved catching effort – ensured the hosts never truly got close. Corbin Bosch (3 for 20) and teenager Kwena Maphaka (3 for 57) led the wicket-taking, while Kagiso Rabada, Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi and Nqabayomzi Peter chipped in with one apiece.
Brevis’ One-Man Show
Coming in at 34 for 1, Brevis wasted no time asserting himself. He was on 12 off eight balls when Lhuan-dre Pretorius was stumped, leaving South Africa 57 for 3 in the seventh over. What followed was a masterclass in timing and clean hitting, particularly down the ground.
Brevis scored 96 of his runs in boundaries – 12 fours and eight sixes – and more than half his tally (66 runs) came in the ‘V’. He dominated a 91-run stand with Tristan Stubbs (31 off 22), punishing anything full and dispatching anything short.
The turning point of his innings came in the 12th over against Glenn Maxwell. Brevis, already on 44, went fifty–six–miscue–drop–six in the space of five deliveries, the drop by substitute Matt Kuhnemann proving hugely costly. He rocketed from 44 to 66 in just four balls, and from there, the record books beckoned.
Brevis reached his century in style, pulling Ben Dwarshuis for four in the 15th over. It was his ninth six that brought up the milestone, and he still had time to add 25 more runs before the innings closed at 218 for 7.
“Extremely grateful. Just happy we won today, great to be out here on the winning side,” Brevis said after being named Player of the Match. “Everyone played their part. We took our catches, bowlers nailed their plans, and good to see it all pan out.”
Australia Contained by Late Wickets
At 179 for 3 after 16 overs, South Africa looked on course for 220-plus, but Australia pulled things back slightly. Stubbs, van der Dussen, and Bosch all fell in quick succession, and the last 10 balls yielded just 21 runs. Dwarshuis was the standout Australian bowler, conceding only 24 from his four overs while claiming the wickets of Rickelton and van der Dussen.
Australia’s decision to field first had seemed a gamble given the conditions, and their attack – apart from Dwarshuis – struggled to contain Brevis. Four of their five bowlers went for more than 11 an over, with Hazlewood (1 for 56) and Maxwell (2 for 44) both expensive despite taking wickets.
David Threatens, but Proteas Hold Firm
In reply, Australia began briskly, reaching 58 for 2 in the Powerplay. When David joined Marsh at 3 for 29, the home side still believed. David made his intent clear, clubbing four fours and four sixes, including one monstrous strike over deep midwicket and out of the ground off Peter.
David brought up his fifty in 23 balls and had Australia well-placed at 104 for 3 in the 10th over. But Rabada’s extra pace induced a mistimed drive, and van der Dussen held on at cover. It was the moment the match tilted decisively South Africa’s way. Maxwell (16) followed soon after, and Mitchell Owen struggled for fluency before being bowled by Maphaka.
From there, wickets tumbled quickly. Australia lost their last seven wickets for 61 runs, bowled out for 165 in the 18th over.
“They hit the ball hard and over the ropes, so we have to be on it in this format,” Brevis reflected. “We played well today, so that’s great.”
Catching the Difference
If the first match had been a fielding lowlight for South Africa, this one marked a turnaround. Pretorius judged a fine catch on the rope to remove Travis Head, Peter held a diving effort to dismiss Cameron Green, and Brevis himself ran in to grab Maxwell’s mistimed slog. Stubbs, who had dropped David in both matches, finally held onto a crucial chance to dismiss Marsh.
Markram, pleased to force a decider, was full of praise for his young match-winner. “Quite a freakish display tonight, quite chuffed that the world got to see what he can do. He’s still quite young, he will only get better.”
For Australia, captain Mitchell Marsh acknowledged the challenge Brevis presented. “He mistimed quite a few sixes tonight,” Marsh joked. “He is a young, powerful man… well played to him. Chasing that down was going to be tough.”
Series Decider Awaits
The result ended Australia’s record streak of nine consecutive wins batting second and their seven-match winning run against South Africa in T20Is. It was also the Proteas’ biggest victory margin over Australia in the format.
The sides now head to Cairns for Saturday’s decider, with momentum firmly in South Africa’s corner after one of the most memorable individual innings in their T20I history.
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