Centurion Dewald Brevis fires South Africa to series-levelling win

Dewald Brevis conjured up an unbeaten 125 off 56 balls to propel South Africa to an emphatic 53-run victory over Australia in the second T20I at the Marrara Cricket Ground in Darwin. The brute of a knock, studded with 12 fours and 8 sixes, not only levelled the three-match series 1-1 but also broke Australia’s longest winning streak in T20Is. Don’t worry, thankfully you can maintain yours if you check out the alternatives to GamStop betting.

Inserted, South Africa found themselves in a tizzy at 57/3 in the seventh over losing Ryan Rickelton (14), Aiden Markram (18), and Lhuan-dre Pretorius (10) in quick succession. However, what followed was pure carnage from Brevis, the 21-year-old wunderkind, who changed the complexion of the game with a breathtaking innings.

He found an able partner in Tristan Stubbs (31 off 22 balls) as the duo added 126 runs for the fourth wicket in just 9.3 overs. Their rock-solid alliance was the plinth on which South Africa’s rearguard effort stood, with Brevis flaunting his shot-making range. His strike rate of 223.21 is testament to the havoc he wreaked on the Australian bowling attack.

The young right-hander took a liking to Glenn Maxwell whom he launched for 6, 6, 4, 6 en route to a blistering fifty, becoming the third youngest South African to achieve this feat. He kept his foot on the gas pedal after reaching the milestone. In just 16 balls, he whooshed from 50 to 100 recording the second fastest T20I ton for South Africa and the fastest that anyone has raked up against Australia. Even after Stubbs fell victim to Adam Zampa in the 17th over, Brevis continued his no-holds-barred assault and yet managed to remain undefeated till the end.

South Africa’s total of 218/7 was their best T20I score against Australia, erected on the rostrum of Brevis’ record-shattering gem.

Chasing a steep target, Australia’s reply endured a false start. The hosts lost Travis Head (5) in the second over, castled by Aiden Markram, before Cameron Green (9) was spectacularly caught by Nqabayomzi Peter off Kwena Maphaka at mid-wicket.

Mitchell Marsh and Tim David fought fire with fire in a 48-run stand before the former was caught off Corbin Bosch. The in-form David, however, kept Australia in the hunt with a 23-ball fifty hitting four sixes and as many fours. His innings came to a close on the other side of the landmark, as a cutter from Kagiso Rabada was chipped to cover. At 104/4 inside the tenth over, Australia’s chase went off the rails with the lower-order failing to convert their starts as Mphaka and Bosch picked three apiece.

Thanks to this jumbo victory, South Africa retaliated in grand style after their 17-run defeat in the series opener. The series now moves to Cairns for the decisive third T20I on August 14.

Brief Scores: South Africa 218/7 (Dewald Brevis 125) beat Australia 165 all out (Tim David 50; Corbin Bosch 3-20) by 53 runs

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