SA20: Lhuan-dre Pretorius stars as Paarl Royals open campaign with victory

It is not often that anyone upstages England legend Joe Root but the 18-year-old Pretorius dominated an opening partnership of 132 chasing a target of 176.

The left-handed batter showed his full array of strokes to slam ten fours and six sixes and put the defending champions' bowling attack to the sword.

Root went about his business in simpler fashion, knocking the ball around to feed his junior partner the strike, and finished on a workmanlike 62 not out from 44 deliveries with Royals captain David Miller (17 not out) at the crease when the winning runs were scored with eight balls to spare.

Earlier, the Sunrisers posted a total of 175-5 in their 20 overs on the back of a magnificent performance from captain Aiden Markram, who blazed his way to 82 off 49 balls.

There were contributions throughout the top-order with England opener Zak Crawley hitting 27 off 18 balls while Tom Abell scored 20.

Tristan Stubbs remained unbeaten on 28 and shared in a partnership of 102 off 63 balls with Markram that took the total over the 170-run mark.

Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman was pick of the Royals' bowlers with figures of 2-27 in four overs while teenage seamer Kwena Maphaka also chipped in with two wickets.

The two-time defending champions Sunrisers have started the the third SA20 season with consecutive defeats and will look to get a victory when they take on Pretoria Capitals in Centurion in Tuesday.

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