Quinton de Kock played a leading role in South Africa’s eight-wicket win over Pakistan in the second ODI, scoring an impressive 123 runs off 104 balls. This victory levels the series at 1-1. Chasing a target of 270, South Africa achieved their goal with 59 balls to spare.
De Kock’s 22nd ODI century was crucial in the run chase. Returning to the international stage, he steadied the innings after Lhuan-dre Pretorius set the pace with a quick 46. The duo formed a strong partnership, with De Kock and Tony de Zorzi putting together a remarkable 153-run stand, which took the pressure off South Africa as they moved toward victory.
The opening partnership between Pretorius and De Kock was worth 81 runs, and De Zorzi made a valuable contribution with a quick 76 runs. This included an explosive 27 runs off just 13 balls against Mohammad Nawaz, which helped steer the game away from Pakistan. De Kock reached his half-century calmly and celebrated his century with a six over cover off Salman Ali Agha.
Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to deliver breakthroughs when it mattered most, despite trying out eight different bowlers. De Kock managed to take control during the final stages, allowing South Africa to clinch the win with nearly ten overs left. His composed innings played a key role in neutralizing Pakistan’s bowling attack.
Earlier, South Africa’s bowlers laid the groundwork for this win. Nandre Burger picked up four wickets for 46 runs, while Nqaba Peter took three for 55, dismantling Pakistan’s top order and reducing them to 22 for 3 within the first five overs. Burger’s wickets included those of Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan, putting Pakistan on the back foot.
Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha provided some resistance with scores of 53 and 69, respectively. However, both struggled to maintain a fast pace while batting, which hindered Pakistan’s ability to build momentum. Mohammad Nawaz also chipped in with a career-best 59 runs, as he and Agha worked together to lift Pakistan to a total of 269 for 9.
Key factors in the match included South Africa’s early breakthroughs and the significant partnership between De Kock and De Zorzi, which shifted the momentum in South Africa’s favor. Pakistan’s middle order showed some fight, but their cautious approach kept them from setting a challenging target. South Africa’s disciplined play with both bat and ball made all the difference.
With the series now tied, the decisive third ODI will take place in Faisalabad on Saturday, November 8, marking the end of South Africa’s tour of Pakistan across all formats.
