Lhuan-dre Pretorius made history on Saturday as he became the youngest South African to score a Test century, reaching the milestone at just 19 years and 93 days, surpassing Graeme Pollock’s long-standing record from 1964. But his stunning debut knock of 153 against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo wasn’t without drama. With South Africa struggling at 24/3 and under serious pressure, Pretorius walked in and was soon at the centre of a key moment. Zimbabwe’s fielders went up in a loud appeal for a caught-behind. The umpire ruled him not out, and with no Snickometer technology available, the decision stood. Commentators noted, “There’s no Snicko, so if there is contact, Pretorius has survived.” One Zimbabwe player even walked up to Pretorius, suggesting he should have walked, adding fuel to the moment. Several Zimbabwe players were also heard telling the batter to ‘walk back’ after the incident. Instead of letting the pressure affect him, Pretorius stayed calm. He built a match-turning 95-run partnership with Dewald Brevis, who smashed a 41-ball fifty of his own. The pair led South Africa’s recovery after a shaky start. Pretorius went on to score 153, an innings full of maturity, footwork, and clean stroke play. He struck 11 fours and 4 sixes, anchoring the Proteas innings and putting his name in the record books.
Poll
Is Lhuan-dre Pretorius the next big star in South African cricket?
From a tense appeal to a historic century, Pretorius’ debut had it all. Without ‘Snicko’ to settle the debate, all that remains is the scoreboard—and a place in South African cricket history.
