World record alert! Matthew Breetzke becomes greatest ODI debutant of all time

South Africa National Cricket Team player Matthew Breetzke stole the limelight with his heroics in his debut game against the New Zealand National Cricket Team. The match between the two teams is taking place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Matthew Breetzke, who opened the innings for South Africa, came up with a gigantic effort with the bat to put his team in the dominating position. In his maiden outing, he proved his worth and made sure that he sent a strong message to the selectors ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Matthew Breetzke slammed a magnificent century on his debut

Breetzke started slow, but once he had his eye in, he made sure that he made a mockery of the New Zealand National Cricket Team bowlers. The right-hander looked solid throughout his innings and batted deep to take his team to a total past 300 runs.

Breetzke slammed a magnificent century on his debut and made many stand and laud him. The opening batter with his ton became the fourth player from the South Africa National Cricket Team to slam a century on debut, joining the likes of Colin Ingram, Reeza Hendricks, and Temba Bavuma.

South African players to score a century on debut

Matthew Breetzke 150 vs New Zealand

Colin Ingram 124 vs Zimbabwe

Reeza Hendricks 102 vs Sri Lanka

Temba Bavuma 113 vs Ireland

Breetzke didn't stop even after getting a ton, and he made sure that he converted his ton into a daddy hundred. The right-hander ended with an innings of 150 off 148 balls, batting with a strike rate of over 101 with 11 fours and 5 sixes in his knock.

Century on ODI debut for Matthew Breetzke! 🤩

The 🇿🇦 batter shines at the Gaddafi Stadium#3Nations1Trophy | #NZvSA pic.twitter.com/o7OAUVuuu2

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 10, 2025

Matthew Breetzke's score of 150 is the highest individual score on debut

His score of 150 is the highest individual score on debut. He surpassed Desmond Haynes' score of 148 runs, which he slammed against the Australia National Cricket Team in 1978.

Highest individual scores on ODI debut

150 - Matthew Breetzke vs NZ, Lahore 2025

148 - Desmond Haynes vs Aus, St John's 1978

127 - Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs Ire, Abu Dhabi 2021

124* - Mark Chapman vs UAE, Dubai 2015

124 - Colin Ingram vs Zim, Bloemfontein 2010

My mindset was to just bat as long as possible - Matthew Breetzke on his innings

Breetzke talked about his innings, saying that his mindset was to bat as long as possible. He talked about the challenges that he faced early in his innings and also backed his team to defend the target. He explained:

"I am a bit tired but I just hope we can get the win, that's the only thing in my mind. It was very tricky this morning, the pitch was quite tacky and O'Rourke was really tough to face. My mindset was to just bat as long as possible.

"(Defendable total?) Hope so, it's obviously going to get easier to bat as the day goes on. If we can strike in the powerplay and squeeze in the middle, then hope we've got enough."

Also read: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Haris Rauf ruled out of the tournament? PCB delivers update