South African cricketer Lhuan-dre Pretorius has rewritten the record books, surpassing Chris Gayle’s renowned highest men’s T20 score. Playing for the Titans against the Knights in Bloemfontein, Pretorius scored an unbeaten 188 off just 79 balls in the CSA T20 Challenge, narrowly missing the elusive milestone of a T20 double-century by 12 runs.
Previously, Gayle’s formidable 175 not out for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Pune Warriors in 2013 stood as the benchmark. Pretorius, a 20-year-old left-handed opener, showed remarkable prowess, equalling Aaron Finch and Marcus Stoinis for the longest innings measured by balls faced in men’s T20 cricket.
Pretorius’s innings was nothing short of spectacular, featuring 13 mighty sixes and 15 boundaries, leaving the Knights’ bowlers struggling with economy rates exceeding 11 throughout. The Titans concluded their innings at 267 for 3, marking the second-highest total in CSA T20 Challenge history, second only to their 271 for 3 against the same team in 2022. Until Pretorius’s recent heroics, the record for the highest individual score belonged to Dewald Brevis with 162.
The match signified Pretorius’s first appearance in the 2026-27 season, arriving with excellent recent form. Prior to this, he delivered scores of 94 and 101 against Zimbabwe and Namibia in a tri-series during September. Despite playing just 22 matches internationally, Pretorius has extensive T20 experience, now boasting 91 matches with a career strike rate of 150.44.
The Titans have consistently demonstrated batting power, and this game fortified their position with the five highest team totals in the competition’s history. Pretorius’s exceptional innings has certainly left a profound mark on the cricketing world, suggesting a promising trajectory for his future in the sport.
