Teenage Phenom Lhuan-dre Pretorious Makes History, Breaks 61-Year Record With Debut Test Century for South Africa

Teenage Sensation Lhuan-dre Pretorious Shatters Record, Youngest South African to Score Century on Test Debut

Lhuan-dre Pretorious, a teenage batting prodigy, has etched his name into South African cricket history by becoming the youngest South African to score a Test century on debut.

The 19-year-old achieved this remarkable feat during the first Test against Zimbabwe at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, surpassing a 61-year-old record previously held by the legendary Graeme Pollock.

Coming to the crease with South Africa struggling at 23 for 3, Pretorious demonstrated remarkable composure and a fearless approach. By the end of the second session, he had amassed an unbeaten 128 off just 141 deliveries. His innings included seven boundaries and four towering sixes, achieving a striking strike rate of 90.78, effectively stabilizing a relatively new-look Proteas side.

The young right-hander eclipsed Pollock’s milestone, which was set in 1964 when the iconic left-hander scored a century at 19 years and 317 days against Australia in Sydney. Now, Pretorious, at just 19 years and 93 days, stands as the youngest centurion for South Africa in Test cricket.

He also forged a crucial 95-run partnership for the fifth wicket with fellow debutant Dewald Brevis, who contributed an explosive 51 off 41 balls, including three fours and four sixes.

Pretorious had been on the cusp of national selection following a remarkable domestic season. He amassed 436 runs in five matches during the 2024/25 CSA 4-Day Series, maintaining an impressive average of 72.66, including three centuries. He also made a significant impact in the SA20 league earlier this year, scoring 397 runs in 12 matches for the Paarl Royals.

At tea, South Africa's score reached 248 for 6, with Pretorious (128) and Corbin Bosch (22) vững vàng trên sân.