Lhuan-dre Pretorius, South Africa’s rising cricket star, impressed with a powerful 97-run innings, leading Paarl Royals to a decisive victory against Sunrisers Eastern Cape. Partnering with Joe Root, the 18-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius displayed his prowess, while Royals’ bowlers clinched crucial wickets, setting the stage for upcoming matches.
Only 18 years old and awaiting Matric results, Lhuan-dre Pretorius demonstrated impressive mastery with his authoritative pulls and drives. He formed a formidable opening partnership with former England captain Joe Root, who supported the innings with his composed play. Root remained undefeated on 62 runs from 44 balls, guiding the Royals to victory following Pretorius’ dismissal by Marco Jansen.
While this was his SA20 debut, it wasn’t Lhuan-dre Pretorius’ first time playing at T20 level. He made his debut for Northerns aged just 17 in March last year, just after the U19 World Cup in which he had starred. He made waves in South Africa last September when he struck a belligerent 82 off just 43 balls against Gauteng, then his third T20 half-century – and highest T20 score.
But this was in the making for anyone who had watched him at the U19 World Cup in early 2024. South Africa went down to India in the semi-final, but Lhuan-dre Pretorius was his side’s leading run-scorer, with 287 runs at at an average of nearly 60 and strike rate just under 95.
Pitch Report and Toss
Pitch Report : The Boland Park pitch traditionally favours bowlers, with grass and moisture providing assistance, particularly for seamers. Batters must bide their time early on to capitalize later in the innings. Cloudy and humid conditions are expected, with temperatures around 25°C. While rain is unlikely, the conditions might aid swing bowlers early in the game.
Toss : Sunrisers Eastern Cape skipper Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to bat with one change in the playing XI bringing in Ottniel Baartman. Paarl Royals skipper David Miller batting first has included the blend of experience like Joe Root and Dinesh Karthik alongside few new faces in the playing XI.
Skipper Aiden Markram’s 82 runs powers SEC to 175 for 5 amidst tight bowling from Paarl Royals
Earlier in the day after opting to bat, Sunrisers didn’t get off to the greatest of starts against the Royals attack before Zak Crawley broke the shackles with successive sixes off Kwena Maphaka. However, Mujeeb Ur Rahman got rid of both the openers in the very next over to set them back as Royals remained in control by the halfway mark.
The second half though belonged to Markram as he stepped up after a watchful start to finally push the scoring rate. With Tristan Stubbs struggling, Markram took the responsibility of finding the boundary regularly at the death before finally departing for 82. It all seemed to be going much better at the halfway interval when Sunrisers captain Aiden Markram returned to form with a classy 82 off 49 balls. It was a vintage Markram innings with the skipper hauling out his trademark square drive, while also muscling the ball straight down the ground.
Markram initially solidified the Sunrisers innings with Tom Abell through a 30-run partnership after the loss of both openers Zak Crawley and Jordan Hermann in quick succession. But it was the 102-run partnership off only 63 balls with Tristan Stubbs that set up the Sunrisers’ 175/5. His efforts guided his side past the 170-run mark but they were clearly short by at least 20 runs on the day.
Debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius dazzles with 97 runs to give Paarl Royals an easy 9 wicket win over SEC
Lhuan-dre Pretorius, making his SA20 debut at the age of 18, thrilled the crowd at Boland Park with a scintillating debut to give Paarl Royals a winning start in the competition. Lhuan-dre Pretorius opened the innings alongside England great Joe Root and added 132 for the first wicket and eventually missed out on a century by only three runs, but his knock had done enough to condemn defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape to their second defeat in a row this season.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius provided South African cricket with a glimpse into the future after the SA20 rising star smashed 97 off 51 balls to power Paarl Royals to a nine-wicket victory over Sunrisers Eastern Cape at Boland Park on Saturday. The 18-year-old, who is still awaiting his Matric results, was in imperious form as he shared a 132-run opening stand with former England captain Joe Root.
Chasing 176, Royals took little time to get going as Lhuan-dre Pretorius kickstarted the fireworks with a four and a six off Marco Jansen in just the second over. Root broke free with a six over Aiden Markram’s head and in the same over, Lhuan-dre Pretorius added to his boundary tally before getting a reprieve at short fine. He took full toll of that as the likes of Ottniel Baartman and Liam Dawson were also carted around. Root was pretty much a mute spectator as he watched the fireworks from the youngster at the other end.
Lhuan-Dre Pretorius follows his debut first-class century with a debut SA20 half-century for Paarl Royals against Sunrisers Eastern Cape. The 18-year-old was sensational in front of a packed Boland Park. Chasing a target of 176 set by SEC, Lhuan-dre Pretorius led the charge for his side.
You would’ve have expected England star Joe Root to be the talk of the day, but his shine was stolen by a confident young South African wicket-keeper batter. Lhuan-dre Pretorius took six balls to get himself settled before hitting his first boundary with a tickle past the keeper beating the fielder at deep third. Three balls later came his first of six maximums, hooking the ball over fine leg. The boundaries continued to flow thereafter. He ended with 97 off 51 balls, 10 fours and 6 sixes at a strike rate of 190.19, taking his side to 132 in 13 overs.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius’ power game was on full display as he pulled and drove with authority. The former SA U19 prodigy certainly benefitted from having the experienced Root at the non-striker’s end on his Betway SA20 debut. Root was his customarily composed self as he steered the Royals home with an undefeated 62 off 44 balls after Pretorius was trapped LBW by Marco Jansen.
Presentations and Road Ahead
David Miller the winning PR skipper said : It was a great start. It was a decent score, there are areas in the bowling we can talk about. But the way the guys batted – Lhuan-Dre is a great talent and Rooty is as solid as a rock. (On Pretorius) He started great in the U19 World Cup and then with the Titans, very excited to have him. (On Root) He is a true ambassador for the game, role model for the youngster. He trains very hard and great to have him hungry for this competition.
Aiden Markram the loosing SEC skipper said : Tough one. I suppose if you come across a knock like that from Lhuan-dre then you need to doff you cap to him. Disappointed to lose, but we need to get back on the horse and see how to win. It was nice to spend some time in the middle, would have liked a win. The standard of the competition is really high, finding wins can be tough. But we’ve been here before, we’ll scrap away and try to find some momentum.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius Player of the Match for his scintillating 97 runs said : I’m glad to get over the line. Batting with Root, he calmed me down and he was amazing. A lot of credit goes to Rooty for facing just four dot balls, he gave me the time and calmed me down. Nice to get a good start and get the confidence going. Not looking too far ahead into the future, just want to enjoy the weekend.
176 runs chased on a canter by Paarl Royals. This was supposed to be a slow wicket that would get difficult to bat later on, but Joe Root and Lhuan-dre Pretorius have made light work on this chase. It was chase setup by Pretorius who showed his full range of strokes today and made the most of a good day with the bat.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius could have been in the showers by the time fireworks tore into the bright blue sky over Paarl on Saturday to celebrate his fine innings. Hit on his pads bang in front of the stumps by Marco Jansen and duly given out by Stephen Harris, Pretorius was on his way to the boundary when his batting partner insisted he review.
When you’re not quite 19, playing your first franchise T20 and batting with Joe Root, you do what he says. But not for long. Pretorius, satisfied that the first replay he saw on the big screen confirmed his suspicions, marched off the field at a steady clip, loped up the stairs to the dressing room, and disappeared into it while the applause was still rippling around a sold-out ground.
He seemed in a hurry to get off the field. Which was odd considering he had hammered an all-international attack – Aiden Markram, Jansen, Simon Harmer, Richard Gleeson, Liam Dawson and Ottniel Baartman – for 97 off 51 balls.
He was given a life by a dropped catch by Baartman, but since then he was unstoppable. Pretorius pulled the pacers with ease, and swept and reverse swept when needed to breeze his way to 97. He would have wanted to get a ton and stay the course, but Jansen got him trapped LBW. Joe Root, who played anchor for the bulk of this chase, took over and got a well compiled fifty to guide his team home, while Miller chipped in with a run a ball 17.
A one-sided contest, really, if you look back. PR start their season with a comprehensive win, helped by their 18-year-old debutant Pretorius. The left-hand batter swung, swiped, slashed, swept and reversed to show his variety. He might regret missing out on a century, but today will instead be about the 97 he scored in such dominant fashion. SEC, after starting with a… well, 97-run defeat against MICT, now suffer another big loss. These results have dented their NRR already, but there’s still a long, long way to go. They’ll back themselves to hit back.
So a winning start for the Paarl Royals at home. The reigning champions Sunrisers have now lost two on the bounce, but it is still early days in this competition. T20 cricket seems to have got a new star in the making. Teenaged Pretorius has announced himself with a match-winning 97, and given PR four points to begin with.