SA vs ZIM: Lhuan-dre Pretorious shatters 61-year-old South African record with a century on his Test debut

19-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorious became the youngest South African to score a Test century against Zimbabwe. He smashed an unbeaten 128* in his debut match, surpassing Graeme Pollock's record.

Young batter Lhuan-dre Pretorious became the youngest South African to score a Test century during the first Test against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo on Saturday, according to Wisden. 

The batter, aged 19 years and 93 days old, came to the crease with his new-look team at trouble against Zimbabwe with a scoreline of 3/23. The batter gave a sign of promising things to come, as he smashed a counter-attacking, unbeaten 128* in 141 balls, with seven fours and four sixes at the end of the first session. His strike rate was 90.78. 

He also shared a 95-run fifth-wicket stand with another debutant, Dewald Brevis, who scored an explosive 41-ball 51, with three fours and four sixes. 

A Test debut to remember Pretorious

Lhuan went past South African great Graeme Pollock to become the youngest Proteas centurion. Back in 1964 against Australia, Pollock was 19 years, 317 days old when he scored a ton at Sydney. 

Lhuan, who had a breakout SA20 for Paarl Royals this year with 397 runs in 12 matches with three fifties, made his debut in South African colours on the back of a brilliant Cricket South Africa (CSA) 4-Day Series Division 1, 2024/25, scoring 436 runs in five matches at an average of 72.66, with three centuries and a fifty. His best score was 120. 

At the end of Tea, SA was 248/6, with Pretorious (128*) and Corbin Bosch (22*) unbeaten. 

Teams:

South Africa (Playing XI): Tony de Zorzi, Matthew Breetzke, Wiaan Mulder, David Bedingham, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, KyleVerreynne(w), Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj(c), Codi Yusuf, Kwena Maphaka

Zimbabwe (Playing XI): Brian Bennett, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Nick Welch, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine(c), Wessly Madhevere, Tafadzwa Tsiga(w), Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Blessing Muzarabani, Tanaka Chivanga. (ANI)