On SA20 debut on Saturday (January 11), 18-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius stole the show during Paarl Royals' run chase against Sunrisers Eastern Cape. Here's all you need to know about the youngster.
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.
