Ben Stokes reacts to Lhuan-dre Pretorius’ sensational strike on SA20 debut

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In an exciting opening to the SA20 2025 season, an 18-year-old Juan-dre Pretorius headlined with a sensational debut performance by Paarl Royals v Sunrisers Eastern Cape Saturday, January 11. His explosive innings of 97 runs off just 51 balls has received wide acclaim, including praise from England’s Test captain. Ben Stokes.

Lhuan-dre Pretorius: A star is born

Pretorius, who took to the field alongside experienced players like Joe Roothe displayed remarkable talent and confidence, reminiscent of the greats of cricket. 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 chase for the Royals, who needed just 44 runs with nine wickets in hand when he was dismissed.

In his post-match comments, Pretorius described the experience as a “the 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 soak it all up.”

Also READ: SA20 2025: TV Channels, Live Streaming Details | When and where to see them in India, Australia, USA, UK and other countries

Ben Stokes reaction

Stokes took to social media to praise Pretorius’ performance, highlighting the importance of franchise cricket in giving young talents opportunities to shine on the 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 how good they are. Lhuan-dre Pretorius is doing that right now.”

Pretorius is not new to competitive cricket; he previously excelled at the U19 World Cup and made waves in the 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’ future in cricket. If he continues to build on this momentum, he will soon find himself representing South Africa at senior level.

SEE ALSO: Kane Williamson’s flawless six against Pretoria Capitals’ Ethan Bosch in SA20 2025



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