Teenage Debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius Shatters Record, Youngest Ever to Score 150 in Test Cricket

South Africa has a new cricketing hero! Lhuan-dre Pretorius, a 19-year-old sensation, has rewritten the record books, becoming the youngest player in Test history to score 150 runs in an innings.

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

The young debutant achieved this remarkable feat against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club, surpassing a 48-year-old record held by Pakistani legend Javed Miandad.

Pretorius, at 19 years and 93 days old, crafted a magnificent 153 from 160 deliveries. Miandad was 19 years and 119 days old when he scored 163 on his debut against New Zealand in Lahore in 1976. The South African is also the youngest from his country to achieve a Test century, and ranks as the fifth-youngest overall to achieve a debut ton.

His aggressive innings proved vital, rescuing South Africa from a precarious 23 for 3, which later became 55 for 4. Pretorius and fellow debutant Dewald Brevis forged a rapid 95-run partnership in just 88 balls. Brevis contributed a blistering 51 off 38 balls, including four towering 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 mark in 112 balls and his 150 in 157 balls before being dismissed by Tanaka Chivanga, who ended the day with impressive figures of 4 for 83. His innings included 11 boundaries and four sixes.

South Africa concluded Day 1 at 418 for 9, with Corbin Bosch scoring an unbeaten 100 off 124 balls – his own maiden century. He received solid support from Kwena Maphaka (9*) while Codi Yusuf added a useful 27 during a 59-run ninth-wicket partnership.

Despite the strong team performance, the day undeniably belonged to Lhuan-dre Pretorius, the record-breaking young star.