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South Africa’s batting sensation Matthew Breetzke made headlines by scoring his maiden ODI century on his debut against New Zealand, a feat that underscored his potential as a top-order batter for the Proteas. The right-handed batter achieved the feat during the second game of the ODI Tri-Series in Pakistan at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
This milestone was not just a personal triumph but a testament to his skill and temperament in handling international cricket’s demanding conditions. Notably, Breetzke’s century on debut was a remarkable display of his batting prowess, aligning him with the few who have achieved such a feat in their first match. This performance was a clear indicator of his readiness to take on bigger challenges in the international arena, setting the stage for what could be a promising career in cricket.
Key facts about Matthew Breetzke
Early career
Born on November 3, 1998, Breetzke was included in Grey High’s first team at the remarkably young age of 14. He played for South Africa’s under-19 side, where he was a regular, scoring over 1,000 runs in 25 youth ODIs. He was part of South Africa’s squad for the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
Domestic success
His first-class debut was for Eastern Province in the 2016-17 season. Breetzke has been notably successful in domestic cricket, with a standout performance in the CSA four-day first-class competition during the 2022-23 season, where he was the top run-scorer with an average of 60.58 over 14 innings.
International exposure
Breetzke made his T20I debut for South Africa against Australia in September 2023. Despite not making it to South Africa’s 2024 T20 World Cup team, he has continued to perform well in domestic T20 tournaments like the SA20 and the CSA T20 Challenge, where he was among the top run-scorers.
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Overseas stints and IPL breakthrough
He joined Northamptonshire Steelbacks for the 2024 T20 Blast in England, where his performances led to an extended contract for 2025, covering both the County Championship and Vitality Blast. Further, Breetzke, who has played for teams like Durban’s Super Giants in the SA20, was also signed by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for IPL 2025 at INR 57 lakh, indicating his rising profile in franchise cricket.
Maiden century on ODI debut
One of the highlights of Breetzke’s career came when he scored a maiden century on his One Day International (ODI) debut against New Zealand. In the second ODI of the tri-series in Pakistan, Breetzke smashed a dazzling century and even reached the milestone of 150 runs – a feat no other cricketer ever achieved in the history of ODI debuts. This impressive feat showcased his capability to perform on the international stage right from the start, marking him as a player to watch out for.
