Credit: Google
On Saturday, June 28, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, the South African batter, who is 19 years of age, scored a hundred on his Test debut against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The teenage sensation, who bats left-handed, reached the three-figure milestone in 112 balls after taking a single on the bowling of Wellington Masakadza, and in the process, he took South Africa out of troubled waters after captain Keshav Maharaj had won the toss and decided to bat first in the first Test of the two-match series.
When Lhuan-dre Pretorius arrived at the crease, South Africa had lost three quick wickets, finding themselves at 23/3 with Tony de Zorzi and David Bedingham not troubling the scorers, while Matthew Breetzke struggled his way to 13 off 45. After Wiaan Mulder also got out relatively cheaply for 17 off 47, the 19-year-old was joined in the middle by fellow debutant Dewald Brevis, and they shared a 95-run stand for the fifth wicket.
While Dewald Brevis scored a quick-fire 51 off 41 with seven fours and four maximums, Lhuan-dre Pretorius kept his innings going with a mixture of caution and aggression. Despite the fall of wickets of Dewald Brevis and Lhuan-dre Pretorius in quick succession, he ensured that his end stayed unscathed before becoming the youngest to score a Test hundred for South Africa, beating the record of the legendary Graham Pollock.
As of this writing, with tea taken in Bulawayo, South Africa have reached 248/6 in 59 overs bowled by Zimbabwe with Lhuan-dre Pretorius (128* off 141) and Corbin Bosch (22* off 48) unbeaten at the crease.
Below are the playing XIs of Zimbabwe and South Africa for first Test of two-match series:
Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Takudzawanashe Kaitano, Nick Welch, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine (c), Wessly Madhevere, Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Blessing Muzarabani, Tanaka Chivanga
South Africa: Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Wiaan Mulder, David Bedingham, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj (c), Codi Yusuf, Kwena Maphaka
