South Africa End Australia’s Nine-Match Winning Run with Brevis Masterclass

South Africa halted Australia’s red-hot streak in emphatic style as Dewald Brevis’ record-breaking century powered them to a 53-run win in Darwin on Tuesday, leveling the three-match T20I series 1-1.

The 22-year-old batting prodigy produced a knock for the ages, smashing 125* off just 56 balls with eight towering sixes and 12 boundaries.

In doing so, Brevis surpassed Faf du Plessis’ 2015 mark of 119 to set a new record for the highest individual T20I score by a South African.

Put in to bat by Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh, the Proteas piled up a formidable 218-7. Brevis started briskly, reached his half-century in 25 balls, then shifted into overdrive, his second fifty came in only 16 deliveries.

He survived a crucial let-off on 56 when substitute fielder Matthew Kuhnemann spilled a straightforward chance at long-on, a moment Australia would deeply regret.

Brevis found an able ally in Tristan Stubbs (31 off 22), adding 126 runs for the fourth wicket. Australia’s bowlers—led by Glenn Maxwell (2-44) and Adam Zampa (1-46), struggled to contain the assault, with even Josh Hazlewood (1-56) feeling the heat in the death overs.

Australia’s chase began with promise, Tim David blasting 50 off 24 balls to keep hopes alive. But once he fell in the 10th over, the innings unraveled.

Kwena Maphaka (3-57) struck key blows, removing Cameron Green (9), Maxwell (16), and Mitchell Owen (8), while South Africa’s fielders shone under the Darwin lights, with Nqabayomzi Peter’s stunning low grab to dismiss Green standing out.

From 119-4, the home side folded for 165 in 17.4 overs, ending their nine-match unbeaten run in T20Is, one that included a 5-0 sweep of West Indies earlier this year.

The series decider takes place on Saturday before the two sides meet again in a three-match ODI series.