South Africa's Lhuan-dre Pretorius Smashes Record-Breaking 188* in CSA T20 Challenge
South African opening batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius etched his name into cricket history on Friday, hammering an unbeaten 188 off just 79 balls for the Titans against the Knights in a CSA T20 Challenge fixture in Bloemfontein. The explosive left-hander surpassed Chris Gayle's long-standing record of 175 not out, which the West Indian legend had scored for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Pune Warriors India during the 2013 Indian Premier League, thereby ending Gayle's 13-year hold on the highest individual score in men's T20 cricket.
Pretorius wasted no time establishing dominance at the crease, racing to his half-century in 24 balls before bringing up a blistering century in 40 deliveries. Continuing his relentless assault against the Knights' bowling attack, the 20-year-old reached the 150-run mark in 58 balls. When the innings concluded, he remained unbeaten on 188, having struck 15 boundaries and 13 maximums at a staggering strike rate of 237.97. He fell just 12 runs short of becoming the first batter in the history of men's T20 cricket to register a double-century.
Record-Breaking Knock Propels Titans
The monumental innings propelled the Titans to a commanding total of 267 for 3 from their allotted 20 overs. While falling just short of the franchise's all-time highest CSA T20 Challenge total of 271 for 3 scored against the same opponent in 2022, Pretorius' knock comfortably ranks as the second-highest team total in the competition's history. In the process, the youngster also eclipsed Dewald Brevis' previous benchmark of 162, which had stood as the highest individual score in the CSA T20 Challenge.
Pretorius' 79-ball stay at the crease also tied the record for the longest men's T20 innings by balls faced, matching the durability milestones previously set by Australia's Aaron Finch and Marcus Stoinis. Aaron Finch's 172 against Zimbabwe in 2018 continues to hold the record for the highest score specifically in men's T20 international fixtures, but Pretorius now reigns supreme across all recognized men's T20 cricket matches.
His innings included 15 boundaries and 13 sixes, concluding on 188 not out from 79 balls. The 79 balls faced equalled the longest men's T20 innings by balls faced, matching Aaron Finch and Marcus Stoinis.
Continuing Remarkable Form and IPL Context
The record-setting performance arrived in Pretorius' very first match of the 2026-27 domestic season, seamlessly extending a rich vein of form following international duty. Last month during a triangular series in South Africa involving Zimbabwe and Namibia, the left-hander registered scores of 94 and 101. Despite playing only 22 international matches across formats thus far, Pretorius has already accumulated 91 appearances in T20 cricket, maintaining a career strike rate of 150.44.
Within the broader professional circuit, Pretorius is officially part of the Rajasthan Royals squad in the Indian Premier League, although first-team opportunities have remained scarce. With the Jaipur-based franchise already possessing established left-handed opening options in Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the young Proteas star has faced limited chances in the starting eleven. However, this historic exhibition of power-hitting in Bloemfontein serves as a stark reminder of his ceiling, placing him firmly in the spotlight ahead of the upcoming IPL cycle.
According to Source, pretorius made 101 off 53 for South Africa against Namibia.