Who is Lhuan-dre Pretorius? 5 interesting facts about Paarl Royals opener who smashed 97 in SA20 2025 clash vs SunRisers Eastern Cape

Left-handed wicketkeeper-batter Lhuan-dre Pretorius announced his arrival in the SA20 league in grand fashion. The exciting youngster took everyone by storm with his sensational 51-ball 97 on debut for the Paarl Royals.

In the third match of the SA20 2025 season, Lhuan-dre Pretorius helped the Royals secure a nine-wicket win over the Sunrisers Eastern Cape. Chasing 176, they got home in just 18.4 overs. Lhuan hit 10 fours and six maximums in his 97-run knock with a strike rate of 190.2. He also won the Player of the Match award for his scintillating display on debut.

The youngster was unfortunate to have missed out on a well-deserved hundred. However, he grabbed the opportunity with both hands to showcase his potential on the big stage.

On that note, let us take a look at some interesting facts about South Africa and Paarl Royals' latest teenage superstar.

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#5 Lhuan-dre Pretorius was South Africa's leading run-scorer in the 2023-34 U-19 World Cup

Lhuan-dre Pretorius, the left-handed wicketkeeper-batter, was South Africa's highest run-getter in the 2023-24 edition of the U-19 World Cup. He scored 287 runs from six matches at an average of 57.40 and a strike-rate of 94.09. He also smashed three half-centuries.

Opening the batting in the tournament, he also scored a crucial 76 against India in the semi-final although South Africa lost the game. Overall, he was the sixth-highest run-getter in the 2023-24 U-19 World Cup.

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#4 Scored a hundred on his first-class debut

Lhuan-dre Pretorius plays first-class cricket for the Titans. He made his first-class debut against the Warriors in December 2024. Interestingly, this is the only first-class game that he has played so far.

He scored a century on his first-class debut (and only first-class game so far). Batting at No.6 in the first innings, he scored 120 runs off 184 deliveries with 14 fours and three sixes. Titans eventually won the game by ten wickets and Pretorius was also awarded 'Player of the Match'.

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#3 He did his high school at a production house for professional sportspeople

Lhuan shone at South Africa's elite school system and quickly became a part of the professional structures. He did a major part of his high school at St. Stithians, a production house for professional sportspeople.

In his final year, he moved to Pretoria's Cornwall Hill. By that time, Lhuan was already playing for the South African U-19 team as well.

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#2 The left-hander is still a matric student

Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who made his SA20 debut for the Paarl Royals in the 2025 season, is still a matric student. The left-hander, who struck 97 runs while opening the batting on debut, is just 18 years and 291 days old.

While he slammed a match-winning 97 on his SA20 debut, the 18-year-old opener is still waiting for his matric results. He shared a 132-run stand for the opening wicket with his partner and former England captain Joe Root, who remained unbeaten on 62 runs off 44 deliveries.

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#1 Lhuan was part of the Paarl Royals squad in the second season but did not play in the tournament

Interestingly, Lhuan-dre Pretorius was a part of the Paarl Royals squad for the second season of the SA20 in 2023-24. He was drafted into the squad as a rookie player.

However, due to his participation in the 2023-24 U-19 World Cup for South Africa, where he was their leading run-scorer, he could not play the second season of the SA20. The Paarl Royals decided to retain the youngster ahead of the third season. Lhuan repaid the faith by beginning the tournament with a match-winning 97 run-knock.