Pretorius blasts past Gayle with record-breaking 188

South Africa’s Lhuan-dre Pretorius smashed the highest individual score in men’s Twenty20 cricket on Saturday, powering the Titans to a 124-run victory over the Knights in the CSA T20 Challenge. The 20-year-old opener struck an unbeaten 188 from just 79 deliveries, launching 13 sixes and 15 fours as the Titans piled up 267-3 at Mangaung Oval. Pretorius surpassed the previous record of 175 set by West Indies great Chris Gayle for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in the 2013 Indian Premier League. His remarkable innings featured relentless acceleration. Pretorius reached his half-century from 24 balls before needing only another 16 deliveries to bring up his century. He raced to 150 in just 58 balls and finished with a staggering strike rate of 237.97. The performance was another landmark for a player who has already represented South Africa in 17 T20 internationals, three one-day internationals and two Tests. With Pretorius setting the platform, the Titans produced an imposing total before their bowlers completed the rout. The Knights were dismissed for 143, leaving the hosts with a comprehensive victory. Pretorius’s innings not only secured the Titans a commanding win but also placed his name at the top of the men’s T20 individual scoring list, eclipsing a record that had stood for more than a decade.