Dewald Brevis’ Record-Breaking Knock Powers South Africa to 53-Run Win

Coming to the 2nd match of the South Africa tour of Australia, it was an exciting T20I clash held at the Marrara Stadium in Darwin on August 12 2025. This was the second game in a three-match series and after the first one, things were heating up. Australia won the toss and chose to bowl first, hoping to chase down whatever total South Africa set under the night lights. The match turned out to be a high-scoring affair dominated by the visitors, thanks largely to a brilliant unbeaten century from young Dewald Brevis, who stole the show and earned the Player of the Match award.

Dewald Brevis Puts on a Show

South Africa started steadily but lost early wickets, which put them in a bit of a spot before Brevis came in and turned the game on its head. Opening the batting were Aiden Markram, the captain, and Ryan Rickelton. They got off to a decent start, putting on 34 runs for the first wicket. Rickelton looked aggressive from the get-go, scoring 14 off just 10 balls, including a four and a six. He smashed a boundary off Josh Hazlewood and then pulled Ben Dwarshuis for a maximum before getting caught by Tim David off the same bowler in the fourth over. Markram, on the other hand, contributed 18 off 13 balls, with two fours and a six.

Sheesh! Josh Hazlewood narrowly avoided this one 🫨 #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/OjrdNhi1vV

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 12, 2025

He hit a lovely drive for four off Hazlewood and then launched Glenn Maxwell for a six, but soon after he edged one to Mitchell Owen at short third man off Maxwell in the fifth over. With two wickets down for 44 in the fifth over, South Africa brought in Lhuan-dre Pretorius who tried to stabilize things but didn’t last long. He scored 10 off 10 balls, including a six off Maxwell, but was stumped by Alex Carey off the same bowler in the seventh over, leaving the team at 57 for 3 after the powerplay, where they had managed 50 runs but lost two wickets. This is where Dewald Brevis entered the scene.

Batting at number four, Brevis played one of the most explosive innings in T20I history for South Africa. He remained not out on 125 from just 56 balls, smashing 12 fours and 8 sixes at a strike rate of over 223. His knock was a masterclass in clean hitting, mixing power with precision. Brevis shared a crucial fourth-wicket partnership with Tristan Stubbs, which really propelled South Africa to a big total. They added 126 runs in just about 9 overs with Brevis doing the bulk of the scoring. Stubbs played a supporting role, scoring 31 off 22 balls with three fours. He was more measured, rotating the strike and hitting occasional boundaries, like a couple of drives off Adam Zampa and Sean Abbott.

Their stand took South Africa past 100 in the 12th over and then to 150 in the 14th. Brevis reached his fifty off 25 balls, including two fours and five sixes. He accelerated brilliantly, reaching his century off 41 balls with nine fours and eight sixes, becoming the youngest South African to score a T20I hundred and also setting the highest individual score by a South African in T20Is, surpassing Faf du Plessis’s previous record. The partnership ended in the 17th over when Stubbs was caught by substitute fielder Matthew Kuhnemann off Zampa, with the score at 183 for 4.

Rassie van der Dussen came in next but couldn’t get going, scoring just 5 off 3 balls with a four before holing out to Sean Abbott off Dwarshuis. Corbin Bosch followed soon after, bowled by Hazlewood for a duck off 3 balls, making it 197 for 6 in the 19th over. Kagiso Rabada added a quick 5 off 4 balls with a four, but was run out on the last ball trying for a second run, courtesy of a direct hit from Carey and Abbott. Extras contributed 10 runs, including 5 wides, 3 leg byes, 1 bye, and 1 no-ball. On the bowling front for Australia, it was a tough day. Josh Hazlewood was expensive, going for 56 runs in 4 overs but picking up 1 wicket (Bosch).

💯/💯 For the celebration 🦁💥#AUSvSA
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— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) August 12, 2025

Glenn Maxwell was the most effective with the ball, taking 2 for 44 in 4 overs, including Markram and Pretorius. Ben Dwarshuis also claimed 2 for 24 in 4 overs, which was economical compared to others, he got Rickelton and van der Dussen. Sean Abbott went wicketless for 44 in 4 overs, while Adam Zampa took 1 for 46 in 4 overs (Stubbs). The bowlers struggled with the dew perhaps, and Brevis’s onslaught made it hard to contain the run rate, which ended at 10.90 per over. South Africa crossed 200 in the 19th over, and despite a slow over-rate penalty that forced an extra fielder inside the circle for the last over, they finished strongly at 218 for 7.

Australia Fails to Chase the Target

After the innings break, Australia came out to chase 219, needing a big effort from their batsmen. The powerplay was mandatory from overs 0.1 to 6, and they scored 58 for 2, which was decent but already behind the required rate. Mitchell Marsh, the captain, opened with Travis Head. Head started aggressively but fell early, scoring 5 off 8 balls with a four, caught by Pretorius off Markram in the second over. Cameron Green came in at three and hit two quick fours off Lungi Ngidi, scoring 9 off 7, but was caught by Nqabayomzi Peter off Kwena Maphaka in the fourth over. Marsh looked good, scoring 22 off 13 with two fours and a six, including a pull off Rabada and a drive off Maphaka.

TIM DAVID FINDS THE ROOF 😱@BKTtires | #PlayoftheDay | #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/BVOdu4FeTV

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 12, 2025

But he was caught by Stubbs off Corbin Bosch in the eighth over, with Australia at 77 for 3. Tim David then took center stage, playing a blistering knock of 50 off 24 balls, with four fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 208. He smashed boundaries off Maphaka, Peter, and Bosch, reaching his fifty off 23 balls. David shared a 28-run stand with Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket. Maxwell scored 16 off 10 with a four and a six, but was caught by Brevis off Maphaka in the 11th over. Australia reached 100 in the 10th over and 150 in the 16th, but wickets kept falling. Mitchell Owen scored a slow 8 off 13 before being bowled by Maphaka in the 15th over.

Alex Carey, the keeper, played a handy 26 off 18 with three fours, including drives off Peter and Bosch, but was caught by Brevis off Peter in the 16th over. Ben Dwarshuis added 12 off 7 with a six off Peter, but was bowled by Bosch in the 17th over. Sean Abbott managed just 1 off 6, caught by Rabada off Ngidi in the final over. Adam Zampa was out for a duck off 1 ball, caught by Stubbs off Bosch, and Josh Hazlewood was not out on 0. Extras added 16, with 11 wides, 4 leg byes, and 1 no-ball.

Records toppled in Darwin, with game two of the #AUSvSA series full of thrilling moments. https://t.co/zNgqKypCxn

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 12, 2025

South Africa’s bowling attack was led by young Kwena Maphaka, who took 3 for 57 in 4 overs, including Green, Maxwell, and Owen, impressive for a debutant-like performance in pressure. Corbin Bosch was the star with 3 for 20 in 3 overs, getting Marsh, Dwarshuis, and Zampa with his accurate lines. Kagiso Rabada took 1 for 21 in 3 overs (David), Aiden Markram 1 for 9 in 1 over (Head), Lungi Ngidi 1 for 19 in 3.4 overs (Abbott), and Nqabayomzi Peter 1 for 35 in 3 overs (Carey). They bowled tightly with 8 dot balls from Bosch alone and kept the economy under control except for Maphaka’s expensive spell due to David’s hitting.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

Dewald Brevis delivered a sensational performance, finishing unbeaten on 125 runs off just 56 balls in South Africa’s T20 innings. His explosive knock with 12 fours and 8 sixes came at a blistering strike rate of 223.21. Coming in after early wickets, Brevis anchored the innings with remarkable composure, dominating Australia’s bowlers.

The second-quickest T20I hundred from a South African player!

Dewald Brevis, take a bow 👏#AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/JOpk3tptGT

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 12, 2025

He smashed boundaries with ease, particularly punishing Josh Hazlewood (1/56) and Glenn Maxwell (2/44), while handling Ben Dwarshuis’ tighter 2/24 with clever shot selection. Brevis’ ability to accelerate, especially in a 126-run stand with Tristan Stubbs turned the game in South Africa’s favour, helping them reach 218/7.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Coming to the TCNI’s Hero of the Day, Corbin Bosch shone brightly in the T20 match against Australia, proving his worth as a key bowler. The young South African pacer delivered a stellar performance, finishing with impressive figures of 3 wickets for 20 runs in his 3 overs, boasting an economy rate of 6.66.

How unlucky was Corbin Bosch here? 🥲#AUSvSA 👉 3rd T20I | SAT, 16th AUG, 2:45 PM on Star Sports 1 & JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/Q9MyvwwkYo

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) August 12, 2025

His ability to keep things tight while taking crucial wickets was pivotal in restricting Australia to 165 runs in 17.4 overs. Bosch made an immediate impact by dismissing the dangerous Mitchell Marsh, who scored 22 off 13 balls, and later cleaned up Ben Dwarshuis (12 off 7) and Adam Zampa (0 off 1) in quick succession. His disciplined bowling, with 8 dot balls, ensured Australia couldn’t build momentum during the middle overs.