Lhuan-dre Pretorius Leads Paarl Royals to Nail-Biting Victory in SA20 Season 4

In a nail-biting encounter at Boland Park, Lhuan-dre Pretorius led the Paarl Royals to a thrilling one-run victory over MI Cape Town in SA20 Season 4. Pretorius scored an impressive unbeaten 98, while Ottniel Baartman defended 15 runs in the final over, sealing the win for the Royals. The match saw intense moments, including a near-boundary hit from MI Cape Town's George Linde. With standout performances from both teams, this match showcased the excitement of the tournament. Read on for a detailed recap of the action.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 3, 2026, 18:59 IST

Thrilling Finish in Western Cape Derby

Lhuan-dre Pretorius ignited his SA20 Season 4 campaign with an impressive unbeaten 98, guiding the Paarl Royals to a dramatic one-run win against MI Cape Town at Boland Park. In the final over, Royals' bowler Ottniel Baartman had 15 runs to defend. After Kagiso Rabada hit a six on the third delivery, it appeared MI Cape Town had the upper hand. However, Baartman (4/51) quickly turned the tide by having Rabada caught at the boundary on the next ball. This left MI Cape Town needing six runs off the last delivery. George Linde made solid contact, sending the ball over the covers, but it fell just short of the boundary, igniting jubilation among Royals supporters.

Pretorius Shines with Bat

After a slow start to the tournament, Pretorius returned to form at his home ground, showcasing his skills with 10 boundaries and two sixes in a 65-ball innings. The crowd was eager for him to secure his first T20 century, but he ended the innings without reaching that milestone, as Rabada bowled a dot ball to conclude the Royals' innings.

The Player of the Match contenders included Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Sikandar Raza, Asa Tribe, and Rassie van der Dussen, with Pretorius receiving 72% of the fan votes.

MI Cape Town's Chase Stumbles

MI Cape Town started strong, with Rassie van der Dussen and Ryan Rickelton (36) forming a solid partnership of 77 runs for the first wicket in just 7.5 overs. However, Sikandar Raza (3/27), a new addition to the Royals, made a significant impact by dismissing both Rickelton and the aggressive Nicholas Pooran, and later bowled Tom Moores for a duck.

The turning point came when Baartman took two wickets in one over, dismissing Van der Dussen (59) and Jason Smith (1) in quick succession, which disrupted MI Cape Town's momentum.