Teenage Sensation Lhuan-dre Pretorius Makes Test History, Breaks 48-Year-Old Record on Debut

Saturday - 12/07/2025 05:27

South Africa's Lhuan-dre Pretorius, a 19-year-old debutant, etched his name in Test cricket history by becoming the youngest player to score 150 runs in an innings against Zimbabwe, surpassing Javed Miandad's 48-year-old record. Pretorius's counterattacking 153, along with Dewald Brevis's quickfire 51, helped South Africa recover from a shaky start.

South Africa has a new cricketing star. Lhuan-dre Pretorius, a teenage sensation, has made history by becoming the youngest player ever to score 150 runs in a Test innings. The 19-year-old achieved this remarkable feat on debut against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club, shattering a 48-year-old record previously held by Pakistani legend Javed Miandad.

Lhuan-dre Pretorius celebrates his record-breaking innings with Corbin Bosch

A partnership to remember: Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Corbin Bosch.

At just 19 years and 93 days old, Pretorius played a magnificent innings, scoring 153 runs off 160 balls. Miandad was 19 years and 119 days old when he scored 163 on debut against New Zealand in Lahore back in 1976. This incredible achievement also makes Pretorius the youngest South African to score a Test century and the fifth-youngest overall to achieve a debut ton in Test history.

His aggressive and counterattacking innings proved crucial for South Africa, who were struggling at 23 for 3 and later 55 for 4. Pretorius then formed a formidable partnership with fellow debutant Dewald Brevis, resulting in a rapid 95-run stand in just 88 balls. Brevis also impressed, contributing 51 runs off 38 balls, including four sixes, marking the fastest Test fifty by a South African debutant.

"There were nerves when I walked in," Pretorius admitted after the day's play. "We knew they had only two seamers, and we targeted the spinners. I just love batting. It worked out today."

Pretorius reached his century off 112 deliveries and his 150 in 157 balls before being dismissed by Tanaka Chivanga, who ended the day with 4 wickets for 83 runs. The young star's innings included 11 fours and four sixes.

South Africa concluded Day 1 with a score of 418 for 9. Corbin Bosch also celebrated a milestone, scoring an unbeaten 100 off 124 balls – his maiden century. He received valuable support from Kwena Maphaka (9*) and Codi Yusuf, who added a useful 27 during a 59-run partnership for the ninth wicket.

Despite the solid performances from others, the day unequivocally belonged to Lhuan-dre Pretorius, the record-breaking South African teenager.