THROWBACK THURSDAY | DEWALD BREVIS LIGHTS UP BETWAY SA20 DAY 1

Dewald Brevis is the talk of the cricketing world after his R16.5-million capture by Pretoria Capitals at the 2025 Player Auction set a new Betway SA20 record... but the big-hitting batter was also the star of the show on Day 1 of the League.

It's over 100 matches ago now, but when MI Cape Town and Paarl Royals lined up on 10 January 2023 at Newlands a new dawn lay ahead for cricket in South Africa.

The expectant - and sold-out - crowd were in high spirits before the toss after being entertained to a spectacular show from local stars Sho Madjozi and Master KG and the entertainment continued once the match started.

The home side, whose captain Rashid Khan won the toss and elected to field, drew first blood when MI Cape Town’s 'Wildcard' Jofra Archer dismissed Wihan Lubbe with the help of a brilliant diving catch from George Linde.

The Boland side settled down after the initial setback through English duo Jos Buttler and Jason Roy as the pair put on 36 runs for the second wicket before Roy (13) was dismissed by Duan Jansen.

Buttler, though, continued to keep the Royals innings ticking over as he produced a sparkling half-century - the League's first ever - before being dismissed for 51 off 42 balls (6x4, 1x6), while captain David Miller knocked 42 off 31 balls as the Royals closed on 142/7.

Archer was the standout MI Cape Town bowler with figures of 3/27, while Ollie Stone claimed 2/37.

MI Cape Town opening batters Brevis and Ryan Rickelton did not waste time in the run chase as they hit the ground running immediately - mostly the left-handed wicketkeeper-batter.

The pair reached the end of the Powerplay in a comfortable position, with the 6th over being the one Brevis found his feet in... smashing Codi Yusuf's first two balls for a massive straight six and then a pull to leg for four. Three overs later, against Tabraiz Shamsi, Brevis helped himself to another six and a four before another six in the next off Ferisco Adams as MICT started rollicking along

However, the Royals managed the breakthrough they were looking for in the 11th over, as Rickelton departed for 42 (33 balls) and the partnership ended on 90.

It was a mere blip for the Royals as Brevis entertained the Newlands crowd with sweet strikes down the ground and finished unbeaten on 70 off just 41 balls (4×4, 5×6) as MI Cape Town opened their SA20 account in emphatic fashion.