Matthew Breetzke delivered a commanding century at Kingsmead, Durban on September 24, 2026, scoring 112 off 106 balls as South Africa posted 297/8 in 50 overs against Australia in the first ODI of the series. The right-hander, batting at No. 4, struck 14 fours and two sixes to anchor the innings and guide his side to a competitive total.
The knock carried significant statistical weight. Breetzke became only the second batter in ODI history to register 50-plus scores eight times across his first 14 ODI innings, equalling a record that Navjot Singh Sidhu had held unchallenged for 38 years.
What is the record Breetzke has equalled?
Sidhu made his ODI debut in October 1987 and, across his first 14 innings in the format, crossed the 50-run mark on eight occasions. That tally remained a solitary benchmark in ODI history until Breetzke matched it precisely at Kingsmead. No other batter in the history of the format has reached eight 50-plus scores within their first 14 ODI innings.
The record speaks to a level of early-career consistency that is exceptionally rare in one-day cricket. Across his 14 ODI innings to date, Breetzke has compiled two centuries and six fifties, giving him a conversion rate that places him in elite company from the very outset of his international career. The century against Australia was his second in ODI cricket, adding further weight to a record that now belongs to two players separated by nearly four decades.
How has Breetzke’s ODI career unfolded since his debut?
Breetzke’s ODI career began with a debut appearance against New Zealand at Lahore in February 2025. From that first outing, he has batted 14 times at international level and has produced a 50-plus score in eight of those innings, a consistency that no other debutant in ODI history has matched within the same number of appearances.
His innings at Kingsmead illustrated the range of skills his record demands. Batting at No. 4, a position that requires a batter to consolidate early and accelerate later, Breetzke maintained a strike rate of just over 105 across his 106-ball knock. That balance between solidity and intent has been a feature of his ODI batting throughout, and the century against Australia reinforced his standing as one of the most productive new entrants to the format in recent years.
