Lhuan Dre Pretorius. Pic Credits: X

SA20 2025 : Lhuan-Dre Pretorius 83 Runs Overshadows Rassie Van Der Dussen’s 91 Runs As Paarl Royals Outclass MICT & Take Revenge Of Earlier Defeat

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Smashing 97 on debut is no easy feat, but for South Africa’s Lhuan-dre Pretorius, it was his destiny. Making his name in the ongoing SA20 for Paarl Royals, young Lhuan-dre Pretorius is on a mission to prove himself after playing two sensational knocks within just three matches of his highlighted career.

Potchefstroom-born Lhuan-dre Pretorius is a left-handed wicket-keeper batter who opens the batting for his side. At the age of just 18 years, Pretorius is making heads turn in South Africa’s premier T20 tournament, SA20 where he is plying his trade for Paarl Royals.

The left-hander Lhuan-dre Pretorius was picked by the franchise during the rookie draft of the SA20 season 3 auction and made his debut for the Paarl-based side during their opening encounter this season against defending champions SunRisers Eastern Cape, where he gave nightmares to the bowlers by playing an unimaginable innings of 97 off just 51 balls with six maximums and ten fours.

Following his superb debut, Lhuan-dre Pretorius could score 26 in the next match against MI Cape Town but then came back strongly in the reverse fixture by mustering an outstanding 83 from 52 balls consisting of eight fours and three sixes before unfortunately getting run out but still helped his side to achieve victory on their home ground.

Pitch Report and Toss

Pitch report: When you go to SuperSport park it’s about pace and bounce and when you come here you got to look about the spinners. It’s quite windy, hitting into the wind is going to be tough, opine Mike Haysman and Kevin Pietersen.

Toss : Paarl Royals skipper David Miller won the toss and chose to field with two changes in the playing XI. Mumbai Indians Cape Town skipper Rashid Khan batting first made one change in the Playing XI with Connor Esterhuizen coming in for ill Ryan Rickelton.

Rassie van Der Dussen’s 91 runs powers MICT to 158 for 4 in 20 overs

MI Cape Town had earlier battled towards a competitive total due to Rassie van der Dussen’s 91 not out off 64 balls (5×4, 5×6). Reeza Hendricks provided support with a solid 30, but once he was clean bowled for the second time by Royals mystery spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, the home team took control. Cape Town were powered by their opener’s exploits – 50 of his 91 came from fours and sixes, but could post only 158/4 as the rest of the batters couldn’t step up enough. Reeza Hendricks chipped in with 30.

MI Cape Town Batting Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNCricinfo
MI Cape Town Batting Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNCricinfo

South Africa international Rassie van der Dussen had earlier batted through the innings for MI Cape Town, finishing unbeaten on 91 from 64 balls with five fours and five sixes.

Paarl Royals Bowling Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNcricinfo
Paarl Royals Bowling Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNcricinfo

Mujeeb (2/27) along with Sri Lankan debutant Dunith Wellalage (0/17) and Joe Root (1/24) utilized the spin-friendly conditions to their advantage as they tightened the noose around the MI Cape Town middle order.

Royals put in a squeeze through spin, with left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage going for as little as 17 runs in his four overs. Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2-27) and Joe Root (1-24 in 3 overs) were tight as well, with the bulk of the runs coming against the pacers. Cape Town smashed 53 runs in the last five overs, including a 20-run over from Kwena Maphaka. A total of 158-4 proved to be insufficient thanks to Lhuan-dre Pretorius second blistering half-century of the tournament.

Lhuan-dre Pretorius 83 runs overshadows Rassie van Der Dussen’s 91 runs as Paarl Royals beat MICT by 6 wickets

Rising star Lhuan-dre Pretorius is fast making himself an instant Betway SA20 hero, scoring blazing half-century in Paarl Royals’ Cape derby win over neighbors MI Cape Town at Bolan Park on Wednesday evening. Lhuan-dre Pretorius smashed three sixes and eight boundaries in 52-ball 83 to follow up his 97 on debut at the same ground.

Having been set 159 to win, Root scored a run-a-ball 15 for the Royals as he played second fiddle to Pretorius in a 50-run opening stand. While the former England skipper, who also took 1-24 with the ball, was dismissed by Trent Boult in the last over of the powerplay, 18-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius powered on and hit eight fours and three sixes.

Paarl Royals Batting Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNcricinfo
Paarl Royals Batting Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNcricinfo

The 18-year-old has certainly become a fan favorite of the Royals in quick time. Chasing down MI Cape Town’s 158/4, Lhuan-dre Pretorius benefitted from two dropped catches to power the home team to victory by six wickets to avenge Monday night’s defeat at Newlands. The powerful left-hander struck the ball sweetly all around Boland Park but was particularly severe on left-arm spinner George Linde with a couple of sixes over the leg-side boundary.

Dewald Brevis dropped Lhuan-dre Pretorius in the first over when the batter hadn’t scored a run yet. The latter responded by scoring his first runs of the innings with a six and continued to throw caution to the winds for the rest of the chase. Joe Root kept him company for nearly the entirety of the PowerPlay in which the Royals got 50 runs.

MI Cape Town Bowling Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNCricinfo
MI Cape Town Bowling Line Up. Pic Credits: ESPNCricinfo

Lhuan-dre Pretorius added the next 51 runs in the company of Mitchell van Buuren before Rashid Khan snuffed out the latter in the 13th over. Cape Town too looked to strangle with spin but Lhuan-dre Pretorius broke away against left-arm spinner George Linde in the latter’s fourth over. After David Miller hit a four, Lhuan-dre Pretorius tonked two sixes to bring the equation down to 32 off 4 overs.

Rashid ran the young opener out in the next over in the hope of adding another twist to the proceedings but Miller and Dinesh Karthik put their collective finishing experience to good use, taking their side home with an over to spare.

Lhuan-dre Pretorius innings were only ended through a magnificent piece of fielding from MI Cape Town captain Rashid Khan, who threw the stumps down with a direct hit. But Lhuan-dre Pretorius had already done the major damage, which allowed Royals skipper David Miller to comfortably take his team over the line with an undefeated 24. The left-hander was eventually run out with the Royals 25 short of their target but captain David Miller’s 24 not out got them over the line with an over to spare.

Presentations and Road Ahead

David Miller the winning Paarl Royals skipper said : Great performance. To restrict them to 158 was a great effort, the spinners did a sterling job. Credit to Dunith for the way he bowled after coming into the team just two days ago. (On Pretorius) The way he plays his shots, his hands are unbelievable.

Good against the spinners, plays the short ball well as well. (On Mujeeb) He found his length well and bowled into the wind but restricted them and it is great to have a match winner like him. Joe Root is our death bowler now. Gave him that one over and it worked quite well. Nice to change tactics within the team like that.

T20 changes a lot so it is important to finish the game, you can easily let the game go away from you. Great position to be in after two home wins, very happy and pleased. Thanks to the supporters as well.

Rashid Khan the losing Mumbai Indians Cape Town skipper said : It was pretty close, I felt we dropped a few catches early on and that didn’t let us back in the game. We were right there but fell short. I felt the way Rassie batted till the end was brilliant, but still felt we were 10-15 runs short.

I felt we could have gotten more towards the end. 170 would have been a good total to defend. This was a good total with our bowling attack in experience, but the dropped catches made it difficult. Fielding is something I enjoy the most, I just try to give my 100%

Lhuan-dre Pretorius Player of the Match for his 83 runs said : Bat just got stuck in the ground there. Would have been nice to finish the game off, but it is what it is. Got over the line, happy with that. They are buzzing inside the changing room there. Conditions were different today, ball was skidding on nicely and I think I adapted to it quite well. I spoke to the coach about having clarity with my game and having a clear role.

South Africa international Rassie van der Dussen had earlier batted through the innings for MI Cape Town, finishing unbeaten on 91 from 64 balls with five fours and five sixes. However, support was limited and while the away side kept wickets in hand, spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2-27) was the pick of a Royal bowling attack that ensured Cape Town never got away from them.

A total of 158-4 proved to be insufficient thanks to Pretorius’ second blistering half-century of the tournament. A chase that has been perfectly essayed by the Paarl Royals. They never seemed to be stressed in this game and they have cruised through with an over to spare. Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Joe Root made the most of the powerplay, scoring nearly at ten an over. Root was dismissed in the sixth over, but van Burren replaced him and found a partnership going with Lhuan-dre Pretorius.

The two youngsters milked the middle overs and kept the asking rate in check. Rashid Khan tried his best first with a wicket and then with a run out, but still it was too little in the context of the game. Lhuan-dre Pretorius wasn’t striking the ball very cleanly today but still scored at a strike rate of nearly 160. The experience of Miller and Dinesh Karthik then helped Paarl Royals go over the line.

Lhuan-dre Pretorius, in South Africa’s domestic cricket plays for Titans, who recruited him after having a serious look at his talent, which was displayed at the 2024 U-19 Cricket World, where he thwacked 287 runs for South Africa U-19 from just six matches while having an average of 57.40.

This made him the sixth-highest run-getter in the global tournament overall and highest for his country, Proteas. Titans handed him his T20 debut in March last year during the CSA T20 Challenge, and then later, he went on to play First-Class cricket as well, where he smashed a blistering 120. It proved to be the difference on the night as the Royals moved into joint second place with the Joburg Super Kings on eight points. MI Cape Town remains top of the table with nine points but has played one game more than their two closest rivals.

Also Read: IND vs ENG: “Side Arm Specialists In India Need To Work Hard To Prepare Batters For Tough Times”- Abhishek Jain Gives His Invaluable Insights

 

 

 

 


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