DEWALD BREVIS LIGHTS UP CENTURION, NOW FOR NEWLANDS...

Dewald Brevis may play for MI Cape Town but he has a great affinity with Centurion.

It is where the former Afrikaans Hoer Seunskool (Affies) learner has played the majority of his fledgling professional career.

And it was the familiar comforts of the grass banks and braai smell hovering in the air that ignited his Betway SA20 Season 2 on Thursday evening.

Brevis has endured an “interesting” second season up until this point with just 65 runs in seven matches.

Both MI Cape Town coach Robin Peterson and captain Kieron Pollard have needed to field questions about whether the talented prodigy in fact needed a break and some time away from the spotlight.

But both Peterson and Pollard were with the youngster last year at Major League Cricket in the United States when Brevis took centre stage at a critical period of MI New York’s campaign to play a pivotal role in them eventually winning the inaugural championship.

And they have unconditionally backed him to find form just at the right time here in South Africa too.

Their prophecy was fulfilled at Centurion with MI Cape Town’s season on the line in a must-win game against the Pretoria Capitals. Brevis repaid the faith by surpassing his entire season’s tally with 66 not out just 32 balls to spearhead the visitors to a competition high of 248/4.

It was a pulsating innings that included a half dozen  sixes - which included a ‘no look’ lofted on-drive off Daryn Dupavillon that had the commentators gasping for superlatives.

“This has been an interesting time. Grateful to contribute to the team and to have a great score,” Brevis said.

“Really enjoyed being out there. I love it here. I back us all the way and we will give it our all.”

Brevis has also formed a special relationship with his experienced captain Pollard due to their previous stints together both in the US and at the IPL while representing the Mumbai Indians global franchise and it was certainly evident on Thursday evening.

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Pollard was consistently motivating his young charge throughout his innings and there was even a special moment when Brevis reached his half-century with the big West Indian prompting him to acknowledge the crowd.

"It was unbelievable (batting with Pollard),” Brevis said.

“He told me to wait after a slower ball and I took one and gave the strike to him. That gave us the momentum.”

The entire MI Cape Town family will hope that Brevis can repeat the magic at his Newlands home too on Saturday against the Capitals to sneak his team into the playoffs through the back door.