Matthew Breetzke scored 85 against England at Lord’s, wishing he could have made the honour’s board, while acknowledging this hot streak may not last.
Matthew Breetzke Continues Sensational ODI Streak with Match-Winning 85 at Lord’s
Matthew Breetzke’s remarkable start to his ODI career continued in England, as he recorded his fifth consecutive 50+ score since debuting earlier this year. His 85 off 77 balls against England at Lord’s earned him the player of the match award, guiding South Africa to a narrow 5-run victory and securing the series with a game to spare.
Matthew Breetzke had already set a record with his half-century at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay two weeks prior, and his hot streak shows no signs of slowing. Averaging 92.60 after five matches—with one century and four half-centuries—Breetzke has quickly become a key figure in the Proteas’ batting lineup. However, he remains realistic about maintaining this extraordinary run of form.
“It’s a bit worrying: it can only go downhill for me. It’s been a special start, to be honest. I’ve played on some really good wickets, and I just hope and pray that it’ll continue to go the way it’s gone,” Breetzke said.
While he would have loved to convert this innings into a century, particularly at the iconic Lord’s ground, Breetzke admitted it was a missed personal milestone. “To be honest, it was bleak not to get to a hundred, because it would’ve been cool to be on the [honours] board,” he reflected.
‘Old-school cricket at the start…’
Reflecting on South Africa’s thrilling 5-run win over England, Matthew Breetzke highlighted the key contributions that propelled the Proteas to 330/8 in the first innings, with standout performances from Tristan Stubbs and Dewald Brevis. England responded with an all-round effort but ultimately fell just short of the target.
With this victory, South Africa has already sealed the ODI series 2-0, ahead of the third and final ODI in Southampton. Breetzke’s continued form underscores a strong start to his ODI career, further cementing his role as a key Proteas batter.
