Faisalabad, November 6, 2025 – Quinton de Kock produced a masterful unbeaten century to guide South Africa to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in the second One-Day International (ODI) at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad, on Thursday. The win leveled the three-match ODI series 1–1, setting up a thrilling decider.
De Kock’s Heroics Lead the Way
Chasing a target of 270, South Africa cruised to 273/2 in just 40.3 overs, thanks to a commanding 123 from Quinton de Kock* and a fluent 76 from Tony de Zorzi. The duo stitched together a 153-run partnership for the second wicket after opener Lhuan-dre Pretorius’s quick 46 had set the tone early.
De Kock, who was named Player of the Match, credited the team’s collective effort for the victory.
“The bowlers set the tone early, and the batters just followed through. Pakistan put up a decent total, but we batted exceptionally well,” said de Kock.
He also praised the younger players, highlighting de Zorzi’s “clinical and composed” performance at the crease.
Pakistan’s Early Collapse and Late Recovery
Opting to bat first, Pakistan stumbled early to 22/3, with Nandre Burger doing the early damage. A resilient 92-run stand between Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha revived the innings, followed by a crucial partnership between Agha and Mohammad Nawaz, who added 59 runs for the sixth wicket.
Despite Nqabayomzi Peter’s three wickets and Corbin Bosch’s two, Pakistan managed to post 269/9, thanks to a late surge from Nawaz, who helped add 22 runs in the final over.
Afridi Reflects on Missed Chances
Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi admitted his side was let down by dropped catches and lapses in the field.
“Saim and Salman played crucial roles to steady the innings. We thought 270 was defendable, but our fielding cost us. We’ll regroup and come back stronger,” Afridi said after the match.
South Africa’s Bowling Sets the Tone
Earlier, Nandre Burger and Corbin Bosch provided the perfect start for the Proteas with disciplined spells that restricted Pakistan’s scoring rate. Their control in the opening overs helped set up a chaseable target, which South Africa’s batters handled with ease.
The chase turned into a one-sided affair as de Kock and de Zorzi dominated Pakistan’s bowlers. Mohammad Wasim Jr. and Faheem Ashraf managed a wicket apiece, but the rest of the attack struggled to make an impact.
Series Decider Awaits
With this dominant victory, South Africa have leveled the ODI series 1–1, forcing a winner-takes-all decider in the third and final ODI. The last match promises to be a high-stakes showdown as both teams look to clinch the series.