In match three of the 2025 season, defending champions SEC chose to bat first in the first match of the tournament's first double-header matchday. PR handed SA20 debuts to two teenagers – South African international fast bowler Kwena Maphaka and wicketkeeper-batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius, making them the two youngest players in SA20 history.

SEC posted 175-5 on the back of a 49-ball 82 from captain Aiden Markram. Afghan spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rehman was the star with the ball for Paarl, picking up 2-27.

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In the run chase, Pretorius walked out to bat alongside England star Joe Root – and took first strike. After a quiet first over, he got his first boundary away with a poke down to third off Marco Jansen. By the end of the Powerplay, he had made his way to 34 off 22 balls.

But it was only after the fielding restrictions that Pretorius began to tear into the bowling. With a style reminiscent of former Proteas skipper Graeme Smith, the 18-year-old pulverised the bowling, accelerating in incredible fashion with another 63 runs off 29 balls – finishing on 97 off 51 with 10 fours and six sixes, trapped lbw by Jansen.

By the time he was out, PR needed just 44 runs from 42 balls with nine wickets in hand, and Pretorius' knock did not go unnoticed – drawing praise from none other than England Test skipper Ben Stokes.

Lhuan-dre Prerorius: Not just a flash in the pan

While this was his SA20 debut, it wasn't 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 Pretorius was his side's leading run-scorer, with 287 runs at at an average of nearly 60 and strike rate just under 95.

After his limited-overs exploits, the 18-year-old took his game up a notch. In December, he made a roaring first-class debut at St George's Park in Gqeberha.

After Eastern Province had been skittled for 157, Pretorius walked in at No.6 with Northerns 87-4, having lost the likes of Keegan Petersen, Neil Brand and Dewald Brevis. They were in danger of even falling short of that low total, but Pretorius helped arrest the slide and take his side past the first innings total in the company of Sibonelo Makhanya.

He batted in his classic, aggressive fashion to eventually score 120, and help his side to a 185-run lead, proving the springboard for a nine-wicket victory. If Pretorius can build on his incredible start this SA20 season, it may not be long before he follows his age-mate Maphaka into the South African senior side.

Lhuan-dre Pretorius: Batting record in senior cricket