South Africa middle-order batter Matthew Breetzke continued his impressive start to ODI cricket by equalling a long-standing record held by former India opener Navjot Singh Sidhu during the first ODI against Australia at Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday, September 24.The 27-year-old right-hander walked in at No. 4 and produced a superb 112 off 106 balls, helping South Africa post a competitive 297/8 in their allotted 50 overs.
Breetzke dominated the Australian bowling attack during his innings, striking 14 fours and two sixes. His century was significant for more than just the South African team’s total. Breetzke registered his eighth 50-plus score in his first 14 ODI innings, matching a record that Sidhu had held since making his international debut for India in October 1987.
Breetzke made his ODI debut for South Africa against New Zealand in Lahore in February 2025. Since then, he has established himself as one of the most consistent young batters in the format.
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In 14 ODI innings, he now has two centuries and six half-centuries, with eight scores of 50 or more. Only Matthew Breetzke and Sidhu have managed eight 50-plus scores in their first 14 ODI innings. The South African batter has therefore matched a record that had stood for almost four decades.
| BREETZKE’s SCORE | AGAINST | VENUE | SIDHU’s SCORE | AGAINST | VENUE |
| 150 | New Zealand | Lahore | 73 | Australia | Chennai |
| 83 | Pakistan | Karachi | 75 | New Zealand | Bengaluru |
| 57 | Australia | Cairns | 51 | Australia | Delhi |
| 88 | Australia | Mackay | 55 | Zimbabwe | Ahmedabad |
| 85 | England | Lord’s | 22 | England | Mumbai (WS) |
| 4 | England | Southampton | 17 | Sri Lanka | Sharjah |
| 42 | Pakistan | Faisalabad | 88 | New Zealand | Sharjah |
| 17* | Pakistan | Faisalabad | 33 | New Zealand | Sharjah |
| 16 | Pakistan | Faisalabad | 3 | West Indies | Sharjah |
| 72 | India | Ranchi | 38 | Pakistan | Sharjah |
| 68 | India | Raipur | 50* | Bangladesh | Chattogram |
| 24 | India | Visakhapatnam | 50 | Sri Lanka | Dhaka |
| 4 | Namibia | Windhoek | 3 | Pakistan | Dhaka |
| 112 | Australia | Durban | 76 | Sri Lanka | Dhaka |
Matthew Breetzke did not stop at equalling Sidhu’s record. His 112 against Australia also saw him become the highest run-scorer after 14 ODI innings. The right-hander has now accumulated 822 runs from his first 14 ODI innings, surpassing Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq’s previous record of 769 runs. Imam had held the benchmark for the most ODI runs after 14 innings before Breetzke moved ahead of him.
Matthew Breetzke’s start to his ODI career has been ridiculously consistent:
150, 83, 57, 88, 85, 4, 42, 17*, 16, 72, 68, 24, 4, 112
Special talent. 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/usojFCOWPr
— WeymarOnCricket (@weymarplanet) September 24, 2026
Breetzke’s latest innings was particularly important for South Africa after the hosts slipped to 168/5 following David Miller’s dismissal in the 34th over. He then joined forces with Marco Jansen to produce a crucial sixth-wicket partnership.
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The pair added 107 runs from just 81 deliveries, shifting the momentum back in South Africa’s favour. Jansen also played an aggressive innings, scoring 75 off 59 balls with seven fours and four sixes.
Breetzke’s contribution proved crucial in helping South Africa recover from a difficult position and finish with a challenging total of 297/8. His rapid rise in ODI cricket has now been underlined by two major records, putting him among the most prolific starters in the format’s history.
