Dewald Brevis got involved in an altercation with Bjorn Fortuin in the final of the 2024/25 CSA 4-Day Series Division 1.
There were expectations from Brevis when he came into the final of South Africa’s premier domestic first-class competition, at the Wanderers. After a terrific outing in the 2022 U19 World Cup, he had failed to impress – until he roared back with resounding success in all three formats in the ongoing season.
Here, Brevis did not get a bowl as the Lions rode on Zubayr Hamza’s 103 to declare on 413-7. For the Titans, Janco Smit returned 3-84. With 99, 148, and 80 in his last three innings in the format, Brevis strode out at 17-2 in the second innings. Unfortunately, the first ball he faced, from Lutho Sipamla, rose and squared him up, and Wandile Makwetu took an excellent catch at third slip.
Keegan Petersen (50) kept the Lions at bay for some time, but they were soon bowled out for 123 against Codi Yusuf (4-46), Sipamla (2-31), and Fortuin (3-27). Dominic Hendricks enforced the follow-on.
Sipamla and Fortuin struck again, and Brevis walked out at 68-2. This time he not only survived the first ball but also played his strokes, picking up five fours in no time. Unfortunately, it did not last.
As a ball from Sipamla came into him, Brevis tried to flick and missed, and the ball hit him on the pad. Sipamla went up in a celebrappeal until he nearly reached the batter before turning around for confirmation: the umpire raised his finger.
As Brevis began to peel himself away from the crease (the pavilion was towards the point boundary), Fortuin – one of the fielders celebrating –probably uttered something. Brevis stopped and responded. Things might have got ugly, but the Lions fielders intervened, and Yusuf managed to convince Brevis to leave.
At stumps on day four of this five-day match, the Titans were 118-3 with Petersen (50) and Lhuan-dre Pretorius (6) at the crease. They need another 172 to avoid innings defeat.
