In a thrilling opening to the SA20 2025 season, 18-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius made headlines with a sensational debut performance for Paarl Royals against Sunrisers Eastern Cape on Saturday, January 11. His explosive innings of 97 runs off just 51 balls has drawn widespread acclaim, including praise from England Test captain Ben Stokes.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius: A Star is Born
Pretorius, who took to the field alongside seasoned players like Joe Root, showcased remarkable talent and confidence, reminiscent of cricketing greats. After a cautious start, he accelerated his scoring, hitting 10 fours and 6 sixes during his innings. His knock was instrumental in setting up a successful run chase for the Royals, who needed just 44 runs with nine wickets in hand when he was dismissed.
What a dispatch 🚀 for the @DP_World Dispatch of the Day. #BetwaySA20 #PRvSEC #welcometoincredible pic.twitter.com/P9vEu6cH36
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 11, 2025
In his post-match comments, Pretorius described the experience as a “dream come true.” He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn from established players like Root, stating, “I’m just trying to be like a sponge and soaking everything in.”
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Ben Stokes’ reaction
Stokes took to social media to commend Pretorius’s performance, emphasizing the importance of franchise cricket in providing young talents with opportunities to shine on big stages. He tweeted, “One of the many things franchise cricket has done is give young/inexperienced but incredibly talented players opportunities on the biggest stage against the best in the world and show off how good they are. Lhuan-dre Pretorius is doing that right now.”
One of the many things franchise cricket has done is give young/inexperienced but incredibly talented players opportunities on the biggest stage against the best in the world and show off how good they are.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius is doing that right now 👏— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) January 11, 2025
Pretorius is not new to competitive cricket; he previously excelled at the Under-19 World Cup and made waves in domestic T20 leagues. His performance in this match not only marked his SA20 debut but also highlighted his potential as one of South Africa’s promising young cricketers.Given his impressive start and the recognition he has received, many are optimistic about Pretorius’s future in cricket. If he continues to build on this momentum, he may soon find himself representing South Africa at the senior level.
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