Breetzke looks at Northants for his ODI inspiration as he hopes to rejoin his county team-mates for Finals Day.
Breetzke takes inspiration from Northants to make ODI record.
Matthew Breetzke, a batsman for South Africa, said he watched Northamptonshire’s thrilling victory over Surrey in the T20 Blast quarterfinals on his iPad to get ready for his historic ODI innings against England at Lord’s on Thursday. He hopes to be with his county teammates on Finals Day next Saturday.
Breetzke scored 85 runs to lead South Africa to their first ODI series victory in England since May 1998, six months before he was born, after recovering from a hamstring ailment. Following scores of 150, 83, 57, and 88, he became the first player to top 50 in each of his first five ODI innings and averages 92.60 in the format.
“It’s a bit worrying: it can only go downhill for me,” Breetzke said, laughing, after South Africa’s win. “It’s been a special start, to be honest. I’ve played on some really good wickets, and I just hope and pray that it’ll continue to go the way it’s gone… To be honest, I was bleak not to get to a hundred, because it would’ve been cool to be on the [honours] board.”
Breetzke claimed he had flourished on the chance to bat with fellow Grey High School alumnus Tristan Stubbs, adding 147 for the fourth wicket. “When I was younger, I played a lot of cricket with [Stubbs]… We have a great relationship, so hopefully it will continue as it is.
Breetzke, who recently signed a new two-year, all-format contract with Northants, has amassed 863 runs for them over the last two T20 Blast seasons. However, he was unable to attend Wednesday night’s quarterfinal at The Oval and watched from his hotel room as they shocked South Group winners Surrey by seven runs thanks to a century from Ravi Bopara.
Finals of Blast Breetzke is currently not included in South Africa’s team, despite the fact that Day falls between the second and third Twenty20 Internationals of their series against England next week. He therefore hopes to play at Edgbaston as one of their two foreign players, a sentiment that Northants skipper David Willey also shares.
“I’m not 100% sure, but I think I will be [available],” Breetzke said. “I love playing in England: the crowds and the energy they bring, there’s nothing better, I feed off it… I was watching [the quarter-final] in bed on my iPad there, on YouTube. It was nerve-wracking, but I’m really happy for the boys and looking forward to meeting them on Finals Day.”