Matthew Breetzke Makes Rare ODI History With a Blistering Fifty Against England

Young South African sensation makes history in ODI cricket in just his first five appearances at the international level.

Matthew Breetzke Makes Rare ODI History With a Blistering Fifty Against England

Matthew Breetzke (via Cricket Addictor)

The current Test cricket champions, South Africa, are enjoying a change in format as well, as they currently take on England in a three-match ODI series. A perfect blend of experience and a few new faces is culminating in something special, as the cricket world has two major white ball tournaments in the next two years. To dominate in these events, South Africa has found just in time a special talent who is expressing himself rather authoritatively at the highest level.

Matthew Breetzke, in his short five match ODI career, is showing signs of greatness already. Breetzke in just his first five matches has amassed a total of 463 runs at an unmatched average of 92.6. In these five matches, he has scored a record-breaking five half centuries.

The 26-year-old has become the first and only player to go past 50 every time in his first five appearances in ODI cricket. He started his ODI career in a tri series in Pakistan earlier this year. He scored 150 on debut against a strong New Zealand side.

Breetzke followed it up with an 83 against Pakistan. Unfortunately, with the squads announced, he couldn’t make it in time for the Champions Trophy, something South Africa might have rued considering his breathtaking form.

He followed the heroics in the tri series with back-to-back fifties in Australia, and now in his first opportunity in England has done nothing different. Three different conditions have been thrown in front of him, and the young batter has responded in style each time. In his short career so far, he already has shown signs of becoming one of the greats of the 50 over game.

England improve their performance, but South Africa continues its winning streak

Having lost four out of the last five matches against South Africa, England would have been hoping for a victory to end this troublesome streak. Those four losses had three back-to-back thrashings which made matters worse. England bowled first at Lord’s, and what should have been 280 ended up being 330.

English bowlers were disciplined, but allowing quick cameos from the likes of Dewald Brevis and Corbin Bosch allowed South Africa to get away. Despite that, the chasing side were right in the game with contributions from the likes of Jofra Archer as well.

South Africa dismiss Ben Duckett cheaply.
South Africa celebrate the wicket of Ben Duckett (via NDTV Sports)

However, losing wickets at regular intervals came in the way of an important victory, and the side fell short by 5 runs. Breetzke with his 85 and Tristan Stubbs with 58 were key architects of the massive first innings score.

Joe Root, Jacob Bethell and Jos Buttler were good in reply, but with none being able to bat till the end it was always going to be tough. The head-to-head tally is starting to subtly skew in favor of South Africa with it currently standing at 36-30.

Both sides will go to Southampton for the final ODI. South Africa will look to make it three strikes in overseas conditions, having now won the series. England, on the other hand, will be trying to somehow end this losing streak against the Proteas side and in process avoid the embarrassment of losing 3-0 at home. For a side that is dangling at number 8 in the rankings, a whitewash at home is the worst nightmare.

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