Dewald Brevis shatters SA20 record as Pretoria Capitals splash the cash at auction

The 22-year-old, who is the current holder of the highest T20I score by a South African after smashing 125 not out against Australia last month, was the subject of a fierce bidding war between the Capitals, Paarl Royals, Joburg Super Kings and his former team, MI Cape Town.

The Super Kings went as far up to R16m to secure Brevis' services but the Capitals, now under the guidance of former India captain Sourav Ganguly, eventually won the battle.

The previous most expensive player in SA20 history was Tristan Stubbs, who was bought by Sunrisers Eastern Cape for R9.2 million ahead of the inaugural season of the franchise tournament in 2022.

It marks a return home for Brevis, who is from Pretoria, after spending the first three SA20 seasons with MI Cape Town.

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Speaking to the broadcaster after the purchase of Brevis, Ganguly said: "I think he is a tremendous talent. His game has really gone forward over the last one and a half years, as we saw against Australia. On that tour, he showed he is a game-changer and that's exactly what you need in T20 cricket.

"I never associate performance with money. Leaving aside the R 16.5 million, I believe he is a fantastic talent. He plays spin very well, which is very important, and looking at everything, we went for him."

Proteas T20I captain Aiden Markram had earlier become the first player to break the R10 million mark at a SA20 auction when he was eventually bought by Durban's Super Giants for R14 million.

Markram will move to Kingsmead after captaining the Sunrisers to two SA20 titles and reaching a final in his three campaigns in Gqeberha.

Joburg Super Kings splashed the cash on all-rounder Wiaan Mulder (R9 million) and left-arm fast bowler Nandre Burger (6.3 million) while the Super Giants also went big on paceman Gerald Coetzee (7.4 million).

Matthew Breetzke will back home at the Sunrisers after a attracting a R6.1 million bid with the St Georges' Park faithful also welcoming Proteas quick Anrich Nortje for R5 million.

Defending champions MI Cape Town re-signed Rassie van der Dussen (R5.2 million) and Reeza Hendricks (R500 000) while they also held onto veteran spinner Dane Piedt and young paceman Tristan Luus.

Paarl Royals paid R5.1 million for seamer Ottneil Baartman while also splashing R2.3 million on wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne.

Other notable signings for Proteas players were spinner Keshav Maharaj (to Pretoria Capitals for R1.7 million), Lungi Ngidi (to Pretoria Capitals for R2.3 million), Kwena Maphaka (to Durban's Super Giants for R2.3 million) and Quinton de Kock (to Sunrisers Eastern Cape for R2.4 million).

SA20 league commissioner Graeme Smith said: "I'm always reluctant to talk about the numbers, but it is exciting to see the investment back into South African cricket.

"This is an investment that was never there. The franchises have come and they've invested properly. You see they're getting behind the South African players."I think it's also credit to how the players have progressed over the last three or four years. I think there's some proper talent. The platform that Betway SA20 has provided has not only benefited them here (in South Africa), but benefited them in other leagues and internationally as well.

"I think credit to their performances. They've fetched the prices because they've performed well, and they've stood out."

The fourth edition of the tournament will take place between 26 December and 26 January.

SA20 squads lists:

MI Cape Town: Rassie van der Dussen (R5.2m), Reeza Hendricks (R500k), Dwaine Pretorius (R650k), Tristan Luus (R650k), Jason Smith (R500k), Tom Moores (R200k), Dane Piedt (R200k), Tiaan van Vuuren (R1m), Dan Lategan (R400k), Tabraiz Shamsi (R500k), Karim Janat (R1m), Jacques Snyman (R200k). Retained: Corbin Bosch, Trent Boult, Rashid Khan, George Linde, Ryan Rickelton, Nicholas Pooran, Kagiso Rabada (wildcard).

Sunrisers Eastern Cape: Quinton de Kock (R2.4m), Matthew Breetzke (R6.1m), Anrich Nortje (R5m), Senuran Muthusamy (R1.5m), Patrick Kruger (R450k), Lutho Sipamla (R600k), Mitchell van Buuren (R200k), Jordan Hermann (R1.5m), Beyers Swanepoel (R200k), James Coles (R1m), Chris Wood (R500k), Lewis Gregory (R1m), CJ King (R200k), JP King (R200k). Retained: Tristan Stubbs, Jonny Bairstow, Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar (U23), Adam Milne, Marco Jansen (wildcard).

Durban's Super Giants: Kwena Maphaka (R2.3m), Aiden Markram (R14m), Devon Conway (R325k), Gerald Coetzee (R7.4m), David Bedingham (R325k), Marques Ackerman (R200k), Eathan Bosch (R1.75m), Andile Simelane (R200k), Tony de Zorzi (R200k), Dayyan Galiem (R200K), Taijul Islam (R500k), Evan Jones (R200k), Gysbert Wege (R200k), Daryn Dupavillon (R200k). Retained: Noor Ahmad, Jos Buttler, Sunil Narine, Heinrich Klaasen (wildcard)

Joburg Super Kings: Wiaan Mulder (R9m), Nandre Burger (R6.30m), Daniel Worrall (R1.50m), Prenelan Subrayen (R1m), Dian Forrester (R200k), Steve Stolk (R200k), Janco Smit (R200k), Neil Timmers (R200k), Shubhan Ranjane (R200k), Brandon King (R200k), Rilee Roussow (R500k), Rivaldo Moonsamy (R400k), Imran Tahir (R600k), Reece Topley (R1m). Retained: Faf du Plessis, Richard Gleeson, Akeal Hosein, James Vince, Donovan Ferreira (wildcard).

Paarl Royals: Ottnei Baartman (R5.10m), Gudakesh Motie (R375k), Delano Potgieter (R2.6m), Kyle Verreynne (R2.3m), Keagan Lion-Cachet (R950k), Asa Tribe (R200k), Hardus Viljoen (R200K), Jacob Johannes Basson (R200k), Dan Lawrence (R500k), Eshan Malinga (R1m), Nqobani Mokoena (R200k), Vishen Halambage (R200k), Nqabayomzi Peter (R500k). Retained: Bjorn Fortuin, David Miller, Lhuan-dre Pretorius (U23), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Sikandar Raza, Rubin Hermann (wildcard).

Pretoria Capitals: Keshav Maharaj (R1.7m), Lungi Ngidi (R2.3m), Dewald Brevis (R16.5m), Lizaad Williams (R2.4m), Craig Overton (R1m), Saqib Mahmood (R1.5m), Codi Yusuf (R225k), Connor Esterhuizen (R3.2m), Bryce Parsons (R1.9m), Gideon Peters (R400k), Junaid Dawood (R200k), Will Smeed (R200k), Meeka-eel Prince (R200k), Bayanda Majola (R200k), Wihan Lubbe (R200k), Sibonelo Makhanya (R200k). Retained: Will Jacks, Sherfane Rutherford, Andre Russell (wildcard).