Lucknow Super Giants’ star batter Matthew Breetzke etched his name in history books as he became the first male cricketer to score fifties in each of his first four One-Day Internationals (ODIs).

The South African cricket prodigy achieved the incredible feat after he continued his sensational form in the fourth ODI of his career in the ongoing series against Australia.

Batting at No. 4, Breetzke continued his magnificent run as he slammed the Australian bowlers to all parts of the ground to notch up his fourth successive half-century, this time off just 46 balls in the second ODI of a three-match series at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in the city of Mackay, Queensland.

With another swashbuckling knock, Breetzke replicated former India cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu’s 38-year-old record for consecutive fifty-plus scores in his first four ODI innings, recorded during the 1987 Cricket World Cup. Notably, Sidhu did not bat in his third ODI.

Breetzke was later dismissed for 88 off 78 balls in the second ODI against Australia. His scintillating knock was laced with eight fours and two sixes.

On Tuesday, the Proteas rode on the back of Breetzke’s half-century to defeat Australia by 98 runs in the first ODI in Cairns and take the lead in the three-match series.

Earlier, Breetzke broke the all-time ODI record for the most runs scored in the first three innings of a career.

Having recorded scores of 150, 83, and 57 in his first three ODIs, Breetzke surpassed former England international Nick Knight's previous record of 264 runs in his first three ODIs.

Breetzke had also scripted history after he recorded the highest score by a player on ODI debut.

Opening the innings, Breetzke hammered 150 off 148 balls against New Zealand in the Pakistan Tri-Nation Series at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore in February. He surpassed West Indies legend Desmond Haynes’ record, who scored 148 against Australia in 1978.

Image Courtesy: Proteas Men