However, there was a bit of luck for the teenager when he was given four reprieves – on 39, 54, 55 and 127 – thanks to a mixture of umpiring decisions and the absence of DRS.  Pretorius went on to score 153 off 60 balls, at that point scoring more than half of South Africa’s total against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.

After the match, Pretorius said he doesn’t really have the words to describe the experience.

“Yeah, I mean, there’s not much I can say. I’m just grateful. It’s amazing. It’s a real dream come true. I actually opened my phone and AB de Villers sent me a message saying well-batted, so, yeah, I’m lost for words.”  

‘Very wobbly start’

South Africa had a very wobbly start and was reeling at 23 for three in the 15th over.  But then Pretorius came after Bedingham edged a length ball to slip.  By the 18th over, he had 17 on the board off 16 balls. At 55 for four, it was down to the two debutants, Pretorius and Dewald Brevis to get South Africa back on safer ground. 

Brevis had a pretty good knock himself, bringing up his fifty in just 38 balls. However, in the next over, Blessing Muzarabani dismissed him for 51, ending a game-changing 95-run stand.  Kyle Verreyne didn’t last long at the crease, but then Corbin Bosch played a solid innings, focusing on rotating the strike.  Bosch and Pretorius put on 108 runs for the seventh wicket before Pretorius was dismissed by Tanaka Chivanga.

In the final over the day, Bosch reached his century and South Africa was on solid ground.  South Africa resumes their innings this morning on 418/9 with Bosch on 100 and Kwena Mphaka on nine. 

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger dg