South Africa’s Matthew Breetzke sets a world record with five consecutive ODI fifties. Know the story behind his historic start.
South Africa's Matthew Breetzke has broken history with a riveting beginning to his international career when he became the first-ever men's ODI cricket batter to hit fifty or more in every one of his first five innings. The 26-year-old opener reached this milestone in the second ODI vs England at Lord's, bettering the earlier record set by India's Navjot Singh Sidhu, who had started his ODI career with four consecutive half-centuries.
As Breetzke's record hogged the limelight, the game itself didn't disappoint the majesty of Lord's. Sent in to bat first, South Africa accumulated a fighting 330/8 from their 50 overs. In addition to Breetzke's 85, significant runs were scored by Aiden Markram (49), Ryan Rickelton (35), and Tristan Stubbs (58 from 62). Dewald Brevis contributed a level-headed 42, with Corbin Bosch's untroubled 32 providing late impetus to the innings. England bowlers, spearheaded by four wickets from Jofra Archer, kept things under wraps but couldn't stop South Africa from reaching the 330-run barrier.
England responded in kind but came agonizingly short, falling to 325/9. Joe Root was the anchor for the chase with 61, supported by Jacob Bethell (58) and Jos Buttler (61) keeping the Proteas bowlers on their toes. A late cameo by Brydon Carse (79) took England close, but Nandre Burger's late blows meant South Africa won the match by a narrow five runs to go 2–0 up in the series.
Up against an aggressive English pace attack at the legendary Lord's, Breetzke again displayed his unflappable temperament and elegant stroke play. He added a fluent 85 off 77 deliveries, alternating elegant drives with measured aggression. His stay at the crease ended through a masterful yorker by Jofra Archer, which crashed into his pads. A review sealed his fate, but by then, Breetzke had already made his name in cricket's history books.
Breetzke's sequence of scores has been nothing less than excellent:
By stringing together five consecutive half-centuries, Breetzke has joined a select list of South Africans who have achieved the same feat in ODIs. Jonty Rhodes was the first to do it in 2000–01, followed by Quinton de Kock, who managed it twice in 2017 and 2019, and Heinrich Klaasen, who matched the run in 2024–25.
But what is unique about Breetzke is that his sequence has arrived at the beginning of his ODI career, and he is thus the world cricket player to have reached the milestone from debut.
Breetzke's consistency has made him one of South Africa's hottest prospects in the 50-over game in a short space of time. With his own bowling-friendly technique at both pace and spin, and his capability to anchor and accelerate, the right-hander is being touted as the long-term answer for the top of the order.
With South Africa ongoing in their build-up towards the 2026 ICC Champions Trophy and the 2027 Cricket World Cup at home, Matthew Breetzke's arrival presents important depth and positivity to their batting profile.
