South Africa batter Matthew Breetzke has made a remarkable start to his ODI career, smashing his fifth consecutive fifty-plus score. Breetzke scored the half-century in the second ODI between South Africa and England at Lord’s in London, breaking the previous record of four held by Navjot Singh Sidhu for 38 years.
Breetzke began his ODI career with a record-breaking 150 on debut against New Zealand. The young batter then recorded scores of 83, 57, and 88 in his following three innings. However, he missed the series opener in England. Breetzke returned to the playing XI at Lord’s, replacing the injured Toni de Zorzi.
Matthew Breetzke Becomes First Batter to Score Five Fifty-Plus Scores from ODI Debut
Matthew Breetzke came in at No. 4 for South Africa at Lord’s after Temba Bavuma was dismissed for 4. Following the early loss, Breetzke and Tristan Stubbs rescued the team with a crucial partnership.
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Breetzke took eight balls to get off the mark but quickly accelerated against Jacob Bethell, hitting a four and a six off consecutive balls. He reached his fifth consecutive fifty in just his fifth ODI, completing the milestone off 57 balls.
Breetzke scored 85 off 77 balls, including seven boundaries and three sixes, becoming the first batter in 54 years of ODI history to register five fifty-plus scores in his first five innings. His innings ended when he was trapped LBW by Jofra Archer, who bowled a precise yorker.
| Player | Team | No. of Consecutive 50s from Debut | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew Breetzke | South Africa | 5 | 2025 |
| Navjot Sidhu | India | 4 | 1987 |
| Tom Cooper | Netherlands | 3 | 2010 |
| Max O’Dowd | Netherlands | 3 | 2019 |
Matthew Breetzke Joins South African Legends in Elite List
Breetzke joined South African greats who have also achieved five consecutive fifty-plus scores. Jonty Rhodes (2000-01), Quinton de Kock (2017 and 2019), and Heinrich Klaasen (2024-25) all recorded five successive fifty-plus scores.
| Player | Consecutive 50+ Scores | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Jonty Rhodes | 5 | 2000–01 |
| Quinton de Kock | 5 | 2017 |
| Quinton de Kock | 5 | 2019 |
| Heinrich Klaasen | 5 | 2024–25 |
| Matthew Breetzke | 5* | 2025 |
What Happened in ENG vs SA 2nd ODI?
South Africa secured a 5-run victory over England in the second ODI at Lord’s, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The Proteas posted a total of 330, with Breetzke and Tristan Stubbs (58) sharing a 147-run partnership after an early collapse of 93-3.
Jofra Archer finished with 4-62, while Adil Rashid was England’s most economical bowler with 2-33. England’s spinners, Bethell and Jacks, conceded 112 runs in 10 overs, which shifted the game in South Africa’s favor.
England began the chase on a poor note, as opener Jamie Smith fell for a golden duck. Joe Root (61) and Jacob Bethell (58) revived the innings with a 77-run third-wicket partnership. Jos Buttler (51) and Harry Brook (33) attempted to stabilize the innings, but England fell short.
Nandre Burger led the bowling with 3-63, helping to restrict England to 325/9. The match produced a combined total of 655 runs.
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