Laser 247 Cricket readers can follow a remarkable night in Bloemfontein, where South Africa’s Lhuan-dre Pretorius created T20 history with an unbeaten 188 for the Titans against the Knights in the CSA T20 Challenge. The 20-year-old batter produced one of the most explosive innings in the format and broke Chris Gayle’s long-standing record for the highest individual score in men’s T20 cricket.
Pretorius reached 188 not out from only 79 balls. His innings included 15 fours and 13 sixes. He came close to a historic double-century but finished 12 runs short. His performance also helped the Titans post 267 for 3, giving them a huge total in the competition.
Pretorius Makes a Fast Start
Pretorius wasted little time finding his rhythm. The left-handed opener reached his half-century from just 24 balls and kept attacking the Knights bowlers.
He needed only 16 more deliveries to move from fifty to a century. That meant he reached three figures from 40 balls. His scoring rate remained high as the innings moved into its final stages.
The young batter then raced to 150 from only 58 deliveries. With the field spread, he continued to find boundaries and put constant pressure on the Knights attack.
Laser247 Customer Support readers can also note the importance of the innings because Pretorius did not simply build a long score. He kept the scoring rate high throughout his stay and turned the match into a one-sided contest.
Gayle’s Record Finally Falls
For more than a decade, Chris Gayle had held the record for the highest individual score in men’s T20 cricket. Gayle scored an unbeaten 175 for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Pune Warriors in the IPL in 2013.
Pretorius went past that mark with a powerful late-innings assault. His 188 not out now stands above Gayle’s 175 in the record books for the highest individual men’s T20 score.
The innings was also Pretorius’ third T20 century. It showed how quickly the young batter has developed into a major attacking option.
Titans Post a Huge Total
Laser247 Online Gaming Platform readers can follow how Pretorius’ record innings lifted the Titans to 267 for 3. It became the second-highest total in CSA T20 Challenge history.
The Titans themselves hold the competition record after scoring 271 for 3 against the Knights in 2022. That same match previously featured the tournament’s highest individual score, when Dewald Brevis made 162.
Pretorius has now moved ahead of Brevis in that list with his extraordinary 188. The Titans also continue to dominate the competition’s team-total records, holding the five highest totals in CSA T20 Challenge history.
Pretorius Matches a Rare T20 Feat
Pretorius faced 79 balls during his innings. His long stay at the crease also saw him match Aaron Finch and Marcus Stoinis for the longest individual innings in men’s T20 cricket in terms of balls faced.
His ability to combine patience with powerful hitting made the innings even more impressive. He could attack the bowlers when the opportunity came and still keep the scoreboard moving between boundaries.
The Knights struggled to contain him as the innings progressed. Every attempt to slow the scoring was followed by another boundary.
Strong Form Continues
Laser247 Cricket ID & Live Casino readers can also look at Pretorius’ recent form before this record-breaking performance. The Titans opener arrived for the new season after producing two impressive scores in September.
He made 94 against Zimbabwe and followed it with 101 against Namibia during the tri-series. Those performances gave him confidence before returning to domestic T20 cricket.
Pretorius has played only 22 international matches across formats, but he already has significant T20 experience. The Titans innings was his 91st T20 appearance, and he entered the match with a career strike rate of 150.44.
A New Mark in T20 Cricket
Laser247 will have plenty to discuss after Pretorius produced an innings that will remain one of the biggest highlights of the CSA T20 Challenge.
At only 20 years old, Pretorius has already shown that he can handle pressure and attack experienced bowlers. His unbeaten 188 not only broke Gayle’s famous record but also pushed the Titans to another huge team total.
The performance adds another major milestone to Pretorius’ growing career and gives the Titans a powerful start to their 2026-27 campaign.