Lhuan-dre Pretorius surpasses Chris Gayle to create new T20 world record

South Africa's emerging batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius has consigned Chris Gayle's long-standing record for the highest individual score in a T20 match to the history books. The 20-year-old smashed an unbeaten 188 while playing for Titans against Knights in a CSA T20 Challenge Pool B match at Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein on October 2.

Titans skipper Donovan Ferreira elected to bat first, and Pretorius unleashed beast mode. The opening batter ripped the Knights' bowling attack to shreds and peppered the boundary rope throughout his innings. He struck 15 fours and 13 sixes, batting at a staggering strike rate of 237.97.

Pretorius raced to his half-century off just 24 deliveries and needed only 16 more balls to bring up his century, his third in T20 cricket. He also broke Dewald Brevis' record for the highest score in a CSA T20 Challenge innings. Brevis had scored 162 during the 2022-23 CSA T20 Challenge season at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom against the same opposition, the Knights.

Meanwhile, Pretorius' whirlwind knock propelled the Titans to 267, and they subsequently thrashed the Knights by 124 runs. He entered the competition in blazing form, having scored 94 and 101 against Zimbabwe and Namibia, respectively, in a T20I tri-series in Windhoek in September.

Highest individual score in T20 cricket