Anew king has been crowned in Twenty20 cricket’s scoring charts. Young South African batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius produced an extraordinary unbeaten knock of 188 runs from just 79 deliveries for the Titans against the Knights in the CSA T20 Challenge on Friday, October 2, 2026, shattering Chris Gayle’s record for the highest individual score in men’s T20 history.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius Highest T20 Score
Pretorius, aged 20, unleashed a relentless assault on the Knights’ bowling attack at the Mangaung Oval, featuring an incredible 15 fours and 13 sixes. His dominant display propelled the Titans to a formidable total of 267/3, setting the stage for a memorable victory.
The Record-Breaking Innings
Starting his innings in blistering fashion, Pretorius raced to his half-century in just 24 balls before reaching a century in a mere 40 deliveries. The left-hander continued his onslaught, reaching 150 in 58 balls and ultimately falling just 12 runs short of a historic T20 double-century as the overs ran out. His strike rate stood at an astounding 237.97.
This incredible feat surpasses the legendary Chris Gayle’s previous record of 175 not out, which the West Indian ‘Universe Boss’ scored for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India in the 2013 Indian Premier League.
- Lhuan-dre Pretorius: 188* (79 balls) – Titans vs Knights, CSA T20 Challenge (October 2, 2026)
- Chris Gayle: 175* (66 balls) – Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Pune Warriors India, IPL (April 23, 2013)
- Aaron Finch: 172 (76 balls) – Australia vs Zimbabwe, T20I (July 3, 2018)
Context and Recent Form
Pretorius’s innings also etched his name into South African cricket history, surpassing his Titans teammate Dewald Brevis’s 162 as the highest individual score in the CSA T20 Challenge. His 188 not out is also the longest innings in men’s T20 cricket in terms of balls faced, matching the 79 deliveries faced by Aaron Finch and Marcus Stoinis.
This record-breaking performance comes on the back of a remarkable run of form for the young Proteas star. Just last month, Pretorius became the youngest player from an ICC Full Member nation to score a T20 International century, hitting 101 off 53 balls against Namibia. Born on March 27, 2006, Pretorius is a left-handed wicketkeeper-batter who has rapidly risen through the ranks, representing the Titans domestically and being a part of the Paarl Royals in the SA20.
Match Details
| Detail | Specifics |
|---|---|
| Competition | CSA T20 Challenge |
| Stage | Group Stage / League Match |
| Teams | Titans vs Knights |
| Date | Friday, October 2, 2026 |
| Venue | Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein, South Africa |
| Player | Lhuan-dre Pretorius (Titans) |
| Score | 188* (79 balls, 15×4, 13×6) |
| Team Total | Titans 267/3 (20 overs) |
This explosive innings underscores Pretorius’s burgeoning talent and his potential to be a global superstar. Cricket fans worldwide will be eagerly watching to see what more records this prodigious talent can break in the future.