Lhuan-dre Pretorius, 19, Makes Test History, Shattering Miandad's 48-Year Record

South African cricket witnessed the dawn of a new star as Lhuan-dre Pretorius shattered a long-standing record on Saturday. The 19-year-old became the youngest player in Test history to score 150 runs in an innings, eclipsing a 48-year-old mark previously held by Pakistani legend Javed Miandad.

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

Pretorius, at 19 years and 93 days, played a magnificent innings of 153 runs off 160 balls in his debut Test against Zimbabwe at the Queens Sports Club. Miandad was 19 years and 119 days old when he scored 163 on debut against New Zealand in Lahore in 1976. This feat also makes Pretorius the youngest South African to achieve a Test century and the fifth-youngest overall to score a ton on debut.

His aggressive innings proved vital for South Africa, who were struggling at 23 for 3 and later 55 for 4. Pretorius forged a quickfire 95-run partnership in just 88 balls with fellow debutant Dewald Brevis. Brevis contributed a blistering 51 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 off 157 balls before being dismissed by Tanaka Chivanga, who ended the day with 4 wickets for 83 runs. Pretorius's innings included 11 boundaries and four towering sixes.

South Africa concluded Day 1 at 418 for 9, with Corbin Bosch not out on 100 off 124 balls – his maiden first-class century. He received valuable support from Kwena Maphaka (9*) and Codi Yusuf, who added a useful 27 during a 59-run ninth-wicket partnership.

While Bosch also celebrated a century, the day undoubtedly belonged to Lhuan-dre Pretorius, the record-breaking youngster who has announced himself on the international stage in emphatic fashion.