SA20 - Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Joe Root Shine as Paarl Royals Outclass Sunrisers Eastern Cape!
The SA20 league served up another cracker as the Paarl Royals registered a clinical win over defending champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape at Boland Park. The Royals chased down 176 with ease, handing the Sunrisers their second consecutive defeat. Here’s how the action unfolded!
Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s First Innings: Markram and Stubbs Lead the Way
The Sunrisers got off to a shaky start after being put into bat, losing early wickets and struggling to gain momentum. However, skipper Aiden Markram played a captain’s knock, scoring a stylish 82 off 49 balls. His innings was packed with crisp drives and authoritative strokes, providing some much-needed stability.
Supporting him was the young sensation Tristan Stubbs, who added a quick-fire 28 off 26 balls, showcasing his trademark aggressive style. Together, they pushed the Sunrisers to a competitive total of 175/5, with Marco Jansen (22 off 12) adding valuable runs in the death overs.
While the Sunrisers put up a respectable total, their effort was dented by some brilliant bowling from the Royals’ attack, particularly Kwena Maphaka, who picked up 2 wickets and kept things tight in the middle overs.
Paarl Royals’ Chase: Lhuan-dre and Root Steal the Show
If the first innings gave Sunrisers hope, the second innings crushed it in style. The Royals, led by a sensational knock from Lhuan-dre Pretorius, made light work of the chase. Pretorius was absolutely unstoppable, smashing his way to 97 off just 51 balls. His fearless batting and wide range of strokes had the Sunrisers’ bowlers searching for answers.
The ever-reliable Joe Root was the perfect partner in crime, anchoring the chase with a calm and composed 62 off 44 balls*. Root’s ability to rotate strike and keep the scoreboard ticking complemented Pretorius’ fireworks beautifully. With Miller chipping in a steady 17 off 17, the Royals wrapped up the game with plenty of deliveries to spare.
Post-Match Vibes
David Miller (Paarl Royals Captain):
“This win feels fantastic! Lhuan-dre was on fire, and Rooty was, as always, a rock. There’s room to improve in the bowling, but starting like this at home is just what we needed. Watching Pretorius and Root in full flow is pure magic!”Aiden Markram (Sunrisers Eastern Cape Captain):
“Not the result we wanted, but credit where it’s due—Pretorius was phenomenal. We need to regroup and find momentum. It’s a competitive league, and wins won’t come easy, but we’re ready to fight back.”Lhuan-dre Pretorius (Player of the Match):
“Super pumped to start the tournament this way. Batting with Rooty was a blessing—he kept me calm. Just focusing on the moment and enjoying my game. It’s been a great day!”
Points Table Update
| Team | P | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR |
| MICT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4.85 |
| PR | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.679 |
| DSG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0.1 |
| JSK | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| PC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.1 |
| SEC | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -2.752 |
With this emphatic win, the Paarl Royals climb into the top two, while the Sunrisers Eastern Cape remain at the bottom after two back-to-back losses. The champions have some serious catching up to do, but hey, it’s still early days in the tournament.
What’s your take on Lhuan-dre’s fiery innings? Is he the next big thing in cricket? Let us know your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for more SA20 action!