In an exciting opening to the 2025 SA20 season, he turns 18 Luann Dre Pretorius She made headlines with an exciting debut performance of Paarl Royals vs Sunrise Eastern Cape On Saturday, January 11th. His explosive innings of 97 off just 51 balls won widespread acclaim, including praise from the England Test captain Ben Stokes.
Luann Dre Pretorius: A Star Is Born
Pretorius, who took to the field alongside experienced players like Joe RootHe showed remarkable talent and confidence, reminiscent of cricketing greats. After a cautious start, he accelerated his scoring, hitting 10 fours and 6 sixes during his innings. His batting 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.
What a mission 🚀 for @DP_World Dispatch today. #BetwaySA20 #PRvSEC #Welcome to Incredible pic.twitter.com/P9vEu6cH36
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 11, 2025
In his comments after the match, Pretorius described the experience as a… “The dream has come true.” He expressed his gratitude for having the opportunity to learn from established players like Root, saying: “I just try to be like a sponge and soak everything in.”
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Ben Stokes reaction
Stokes took to social media to praise Pretorius' performance, stressing the importance of franchise cricket in providing opportunities for young talent to shine on the big stages. he tweeted, “One of the many things cricket has done is give young/inexperienced but incredibly talented players opportunities on the biggest stage against the best in the world and show them just how good they are. Luan Dre Pretorius is doing that now.
One of the many things 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 it now 👏– Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) January 11, 2025
Pretorius is not new to competitive cricket. He has previously excelled in the Under-19 World Cup and created a stir 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 debut and the appreciation he has received, many are optimistic about Pretorius' future in cricket. If he continues to build on this momentum, he could soon find himself representing South Africa at senior level.
