FEATURE: AB DE VILLIERS' TEXT BOWLS RECORD-BREAKING LHUAN-DRE PRETORIUS OVER

There is something about firsts for Lhuan-dre Pretorius.

The Betway SA20 Rising Star is fast making a habit of shooting the light outs at the first take.

Pretorius opened his account for the Paarl Royals by topping the competition’s run-scoring charts in his Betway SA20 maiden season, which was kickstarted with a 51-ball 97 the first time he strode to the crease in royal pink.

He followed it up with a century on his first-class debut for the Titans.

Arriving in the south east of England, Pretorius clubbed 44 not out from just 24 balls for Hampshire in a tie with Middlesex at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.

But this has all been superseded with a record-breaking 153 on his Test bow for the Proteas in Bulawayo recently.

Much like his childhood hero, Durban Super Giants’ Quinton de Kock, the southpaw is not one to delve into the specifics of his success, but simply states “I love batting”.

There’s no debate about that, for Pretorius spent 205 minutes and 160 balls at the Queens Sports Club crease.

Even though he admits “four-day cricket is quite a long period you have to bat, and you can get bored”, Pretorius just kept going, bludgeoning 11 boundaries and four sixes as he left records previously held by the great Graeme Pollock and Pakistan legend Javed Miandad in his dust.

And all of this before his 20th birthday.

Having initially been schooled at St Stithians Boys' College in Johannesburg before moving up the N1 to Cornwall Hill College in Centurion in Matric last year, Pretorius’ schoolboy reputation preceded him to the professional ranks.

But his transition has been nothing short of sensational.

Often young players are over-awed by the spotlights of the big stage. In contrast, Pretorius seems to thrive when the pressure is turned on.

In similar fashion to NBA legend Michael Jordan, who found unique ways to ignite the spark within himself to be on the very edge for the looming battle, Pretorius’ motivation levels only increase when the challenge intensifies.

“There was a bit of chirping going on, but I like it,” he said. “I enjoy it quite a lot because it keeps me in the fight and it keeps me going.

“Playing for your country, you don't take it for granted. It helped me stay in the fight.”

While Pretorius’ maturity levels are beyond his 19 years, he can’t help but feel giddy like the teenager he is after checking his phone and seeing congratulatory messages from none other than Betway SA20 Ambassador AB de Villiers pop up.

“I'm just grateful. It's amazing. It's a real dream come true,” he said.

“I actually opened my phone and AB sent me a message saying: ‘Well Done!’

“I'm lost for words.”

The key to Pretorius’ success is that cricket remains the ultimate leveller - he managed just four in the second innings - and knowing that his entire career is still ahead of him.

“This is only the beginning, I hope. There's a lot to do. There's a long road. A long way to go,” he said.

“But, yeah, the domestic performances obviously helped with confidence and stuff, but that's in the past. This is also in the past now.

“Hopefully I can do it again and again. I just love batting. I just want to bat as much as I can.”