South Africa’s young gun Lhuan-dre Pretorius has announced his arrival in style with a stunning century on debut on Day 1 of the ongoing first Test against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Pretorius is among three Proteas debutantes in the first Test against Zimbabwe.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius reached his maiden hundred with a neat flick to deep backward square leg, as the youngster celebrated the moment with a roar of joy and a raised bat. As he embraced batting partner Corbin Bosch, Pretorius’ composure and flair have already shown that he is a rising star.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius becomes the youngest South African to score a Test century
The left-handed batter made history in Bulawayo by smashing a superb century on his Test debut against Zimbabwe. The 19-year-old reached the milestone in just 112 balls. With this knock, Pretorius became the youngest South African to score a Test century.
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The Proteas wicketkeeper-batter broke a 61-year-old record held by the legendary Graeme Pollock, who had achieved the feat in 1964 against Australia, to become the youngest player from South Africa to score a century in Test cricket, and that too on debut.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius brings up a CENTURY ON DEBUT 🔥🔥🔥
The last Proteas batter to achieve this was Stephen Cook in 2016 against England
Pretorius is only 19 years old, the youngest to ever do so 🤩 pic.twitter.com/3xnMMtabKx
— Werner (@Werries_) June 28, 2025
Youngest Test centurions for South Africa:
Lhuan-dre Pretorius – 19 years, 93 days
Graeme Pollock – 19 years, 317 days
Graeme Pollock – 19 years, 331 days
Tuppy Owen-Smith – 20 years, 145 days
AB de Villiers – 20 years, 339 days
He is also one of the few Proteas players who smashed a century on their Test debut. Stephen Cook was the last man who achieved the same feat back in 2016 against England. Pretorius is currently batting at 120* off 134 balls, and he has already hit seven boundaries and three sixes.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Corbin Bosch puts South Africa in command at Tea
The number five batter stitched a 95-run partnership with another debutant, Dewald Brevis, who also played a quickfire knock of 51 runs off 41 balls, laced with three boundaries and four sixes. Before this, the young gun added 30+ stands with Wiaan Mulder (17) and Kyle Verreynne (10).
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Currently, Pretorius and Corbin Bosch are proving dangerous for Zimbabwe, as the South African stars have already added 60+ runs for the seventh wicket in the second session of Day 1 in Bulawayo. The WTC champions’ present score stands at 248/6 in 59 overs at the tea break in the second session of Day 1 of the ongoing two-match Test series opener against Zimbabwe.
South Africa play first game in Zimbabwe after 11 years!
Well, Temba Bavuma was ruled out of the Zimbabwe tour due to a hamstring issue. In Bavuma’s absence, Keshav Maharaj, who has captained South Africa in seven ODIs and five T20Is, is leading the Proteas side for the first time in the traditional format of the game.
South Africa returned to Zimbabwe for a Test match after a long gap. They last played in Zimbabwe back in September 2014 during an ODI series in Harare. Their last Test in Zimbabwe was also in Harare in August 2014. The two teams last met in a Test match in December 2017 at St. George’s Park in South Africa. It was a day-night Test match that ended in just two days.
