SA20 2025: Joe Root smashes entertaining half-century on Paarl Royals debut

While many eyeballs were on Lhuan-dre Pretorius, English batter Joe Root walked off to a fifty on his SA20 debut in Paarl Royals’ clash against Sunrisers Eastern Cape, on Saturday. The right-handed batter, who opened the innings for Paarl, scored a 44-ball 62* with five boundaries, including a six. 

It was Root’s first appearance in the league, and the Englishman was more than happy to play second-fiddle to the 18-year-old Pretorius, who was smacking the ball for fun. The southpaw scored an enterprising 51-ball 97 and had an opportunity to join the likes of Heinrich Klaasen and co with an SA20 century. 

In particular, Root targetted the leg-side boundary, with 43 of his 62 runs coming in that region. However, the only six the Englishman hit stunningly was over long-off. 

SEC, who opted to bat first, could only post 175 runs on board, courtesy of Aiden Markram’s 49-ball 82. But it wasn’t enough as the Royals, courtesy of a 132-run partnership in 13 overs, made light work of the target, chasing it down in 18.4 overs. 

Root’s previous appearance in the shortest format was on August 14, when he played for Trent Rockets against the Oval Invincibles, where he scored an 11-ball 12.