Breetzke Scores Record Half-Centuries In First Five ODI Matches

Post by : Mumtaaz Qadiri

South Africa’s Matthew Breetzke made history by scoring half-centuries in each of his first five ODI matches. This remarkable feat helped South Africa secure a thrilling five-run win over England at Lord’s on Thursday, September 5, 2025. Breetzke’s consistency gave his team a solid foundation in a tense and high-scoring game.

Strong Opening By South Africa

Chasing a challenging target, South Africa started their innings with openers Aiden Markham and Ryan Rickelton. They shared a 73-run partnership for the first wicket in 13 overs, giving the team a stable start. When the third wicket fell early, Matthew Breetzke walked in confidently to stabilize the innings.

Breetzke’s Brilliant Knock

Breetzke played an outstanding innings, scoring 85 runs from just 77 balls. He struck seven boundaries and three sixes. His knock, combined with Tristan Stubbs’ half-century and Dewald Brevis’ 42 from 20 balls, helped South Africa post a formidable total of 330-8, the highest ever by a touring team at Lord’s.

Partnership With Stubbs

Breetzke and Tristan Stubbs built a strong 147-run partnership for the fourth wicket. This partnership proved vital as South Africa recovered from losing three quick wickets earlier. Their combined effort kept the innings moving and added crucial runs to put pressure on England.

England’s Challenge In Run Chase

England started their innings with high hopes but lost Jamie Smith on the first ball. Joe Root and Jacob Bethell steadied the innings with fluent partnerships. Later, Harry Brook and Jos Buttler added another solid partnership, keeping England in the hunt despite the high target.

Key Dismissals Turn The Match

The turning point came when Jos Buttler was bowled for 61 by Lungi Ngidi, the same score that Joe Root had made before being stumped by Keshav Maharaj. This left South Africa in control. Later, Will Jacks tried hard with some big shots but was dismissed for 39, reducing England’s chance of winning.

Courageous Effort By Archer

England’s Jofra Archer hit two sixes in the late overs, creating some tension for South Africa. However, despite his effort, England finished on 325-9. This meant South Africa took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

Record-Breaking Match

The match produced a combined 655 runs, the highest total ever scored in an ODI at Lord’s. While England could find some pride in their second innings, South Africa’s consistent batting and Breetzke’s record-breaking performance overshadowed their effort.

Skipper’s Reaction

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma praised the team’s performance. He said, “It got exciting for everyone watching. We held our nerve well and let them into the game more than we should have. A good victory all the same.”

Bavuma highlighted the importance of staying calm during high-pressure moments in a record-scoring match.

Breetzke’s Record And Stats

Matthew Breetzke has now scored 463 runs in his first five ODI appearances, averaging 92 runs per innings. His performance has made him a key player for South Africa. He commented, “It’s been good so far, hope it continues. It was tricky at the start, but I thought a good score was around 280.”

Early Storm Overcome

South Africa faced an early challenge as Bavuma was dismissed cheaply. When Markham was caught and bowled for 49 by Adil Rashid, South Africa were 93-3, in danger of losing momentum. Breetzke’s calm and confident batting helped the team recover and maintain control.

Contribution Of Other Players

Tristan Stubbs also scored a half-century, and Dewald Brevis contributed 42 runs from 20 balls. Their efforts in the latter stages of the innings helped South Africa post a competitive total. The team’s high score broke the previous record set by India in 2002 (326 runs).

England’s Batting Response

England’s innings started poorly as Jamie Smith was caught off the first ball. Ben Duckett scored only 14 before being bowled. Joe Root played a classy innings, while Jacob Bethell scored 58 runs, showing determination. Bethell hit 19 runs in one over off Maharaj but was eventually dismissed.

Mid-Innings Partnerships

Captain Harry Brook and Jos Buttler added a 69-run partnership, giving England hope of chasing the target. However, Brook was caught at extra cover by Bavuma after being deceived by Senuran Muthusamy. These dismissals left England struggling to keep up with South Africa’s pace.

Final Overs And Series Outcome

England fought in the final overs with some big hits, but they could not bridge the gap. South Africa’s strong bowling in crucial moments ensured their series win. Breetzke’s innings, combined with team contributions, proved decisive in this high-scoring thriller.

Breetzke ODI Record, South Africa Victory, England Cricket Match, Lord’s High-Scoring