Lhuan-dre Pretorius produced a remarkable display of power-hitting in Bloemfontein, rewriting the record books with an extraordinary 188 from just 79 deliveries for the Titans in the CSA T20 Challenge.
The 20-year-old left-handed opener struck 15 fours and 13 sixes as the Titans posted 267 for three against the Knights. His innings became the highest individual score in men’s Twenty20 cricket, surpassing the long-standing record held by West Indies great Chris Gayle.
Pretorius came within touching distance of an even more remarkable landmark. Had he added another 12 runs, he would have become the first batter to score a double century in men’s T20 cricket. Nevertheless, his 188 was enough to establish a new benchmark in the shortest mainstream format of the game.
Gayle had held the previous record for 13 years. Representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2013 Indian Premier League, the Caribbean powerhouse smashed an unbeaten 175 from 66 balls against the now-defunct Pune Warriors. His innings was widely regarded as one of the defining examples of T20 power-hitting.
Pretorius’s assault was built with remarkable speed. He reached his half-century from only 24 balls and required a further 16 deliveries to bring up his century. The South African continued at the same relentless tempo, reaching 150 from 58 balls before finishing with 188.
His performance also laid the foundation for a commanding victory. The Knights were bowled out for 143, giving the Titans a 124-run win. Pretorius’s innings was therefore not merely a personal record; it played a central role in one of the most emphatic results of the match.
The Titans’ total of 267 for three was the second-highest team score in the competition. They also hold the competition’s highest total, having previously recorded 271 for three. Pretorius’s contribution accounted for a substantial portion of the latest score and turned what was already a strong total into a daunting target.
The innings continued a rich run of form for Pretorius. It was his first appearance of the 2026-27 season, but he had already made a strong impression during the previous month’s tri-series involving South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe. He scored 94 and 101 in two of those matches, carrying that momentum into the domestic campaign.
Pretorius has so far represented South Africa in 22 international matches: two Tests, three ODIs and 17 T20 internationals. His T20 international strike rate stands at 154.58, underlining the aggressive approach that has become a defining feature of his batting.
His rise has been rapid. After making an impression in South African school cricket, Pretorius entered professional cricket at the age of 17. His first-class career also began with a century. On his first-class debut for the Titans against the Warriors in December 2024, he scored 120 in the first innings.
He then made history on his Test debut against Zimbabwe in July last year. At 19 years and 93 days, Pretorius became South Africa’s youngest Test centurion in the country’s 136-year Test history.
His latest achievement adds another major milestone to an already striking early career. From a teenage prospect to a Test record-holder and now the owner of the highest individual score in men’s T20 cricket, Pretorius has established himself as one of the most explosive young batters in South African cricket.
The only obvious frustration from an otherwise extraordinary night will be those 12 missing runs. A score of 200 was within reach. Instead, Pretorius had to settle for 188 — but that was more than enough to take one of T20 cricket’s most celebrated batting records away from Chris Gayle.