Lhuan-dre Pretorius Scores 188* in a CSA T20 Challenge Match, Breaking Chris Gayle's Men's T20 Record

Lhuan-dre Pretorius, a 20-year-old South African batter, scored 188 not out off 79 balls on 2 October 2026 in a CSA T20 Challenge match at Bloemfontein. Both sources used here describe it as the highest individual score in men's T20 cricket. It passed Chris Gayle's 175 not out, made for Royal Challengers Bangalore (now Bengaluru) against Pune Warriors in the 2013 Indian Premier League. As of 4 October 2026, the match is completed.

Key facts at a glance

What happened in the match

The innings

Pretorius reached his fifty in 24 balls. He needed 16 more balls for his hundred, which came in 40 balls. His 150 came in 58 balls, and he finished unbeaten on 188 from 79 deliveries. The strike rate of 237.97 matches 188 runs from 79 balls.

He fell 12 runs short of what would have been the first double century in men's T20 cricket.

The result

Titans made 267 for 3 in their 20 overs. Knights were bowled out for 143 in 17.2 overs, so Titans won by 124 runs. BBC Sport lists Ferreira with 3 for 16 for Titans and Cloete as Knights' top scorer with 39 off 25 balls.

Why the record matters

Gayle's 175 not out had stood since the 2013 IPL, about 13 years. Pretorius's innings moves the men's T20 individual high from an IPL match in India to a South African domestic match. It also shows that the record is not limited to international games. The reports describe the record only for men's T20 cricket.

Exam-relevant context

These are factual points that sports current-affairs notes often cover. This is not a prediction that any question will be asked.

• Record holder: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, 188 not out, the highest individual score in men's T20 cricket according to the sources.
• Previous holder: Chris Gayle, 175 not out, for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India in 2013 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium (venue per GKToday).
• Competition and venue: CSA T20 Challenge, Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein.
• Format: A standard T20 match allows a maximum of 20 overs per side. GKToday says the format began in England in 2003.
• Player background: BBC Sport says Pretorius has played 17 T20s, three one-day internationals and two Tests for South Africa. GKToday calls this innings his third T20 century.

Dates and sourcing

The innings was played on 2 October 2026. BBC Sport's report is dated the same day. GKToday's current-affairs post is dated 3 October 2026, so that date is the publication date, not the match date.

Limits of the evidence

• The sources do not mention any separate ratification or record-keeping statement from a cricket body or statistics database. The record claim rests on the two reports.
• Neither source gives Pretorius's team-by-team career figures beyond the details above, so avoid adding unsourced career statistics.
• The sources do not compare this score with women's T20 cricket.

FAQ

When did Lhuan-dre Pretorius score 188 not out?

He scored it on 2 October 2026 in a CSA T20 Challenge match at Bloemfontein.

Whose record did he break?

He broke Chris Gayle's 175 not out from the 2013 IPL.

Did Pretorius score a double century?

No. He finished on 188 not out, 12 runs short of 200.

Did his team win?

Yes. Titans beat Knights by 124 runs after scoring 267 for 3.