Quinton de Kock scored an unbeaten 123 in South Africa's eight-wicket win over Pakistan, leveling the ODI series at 1-1. The veteran batter's form has motivated emerging talents Tony de Zorzi and Lhuan-dre Pretorius. Both young left-handers shared significant partnerships with de Kock during the match in Faisalabad on 6 November 2025.
Quinton de Kock marked his return to ODI cricket with a commanding performance, scoring his 22nd century in South Africa's eight-wicket victory against Pakistan at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on 6 November 2025. The 32-year-old left-hander remained unbeaten on 123 off 119 deliveries, helping chase down the target and draw the three-match series level at 1-1. This followed his 63 off 71 balls in the series opener. The deciding match is scheduled for the next day at the same venue.
De Kock's resurgence comes after his retirement from ODIs at the end of the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India, where he scored four centuries and finished as the third-highest run-scorer. This is his first white-ball tour with the Proteas since that event.
Batting alongside de Kock was Tony de Zorzi, who contributed 76 off 63 balls in a crucial 153-run second-wicket partnership. Both Johannesburg natives attended King Edward VII School (KES), with de Zorzi recalling his admiration for de Kock from school days. "Batting with Quinny is pretty special when he’s in full flight," de Zorzi said. "I never thought I’d be batting with him for South Africa."
Nineteen-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius, another left-handed opener and wicketkeeper-batter, debuted in the first ODI with 57 off 60 balls and followed with 46 off 40 in the second. De Kock presented him with his debut cap and praised his talent: "Lhuan-dre’s playing really nicely... He reminds me a little bit of my young self." Pretorius, who idolized de Kock from watching him at Wanderers Stadium, shared, "It’s truly a dream come true."
De Kock expressed no regrets about his two-year break, stating, "I’ve come back and I’ve found a newfound energy." Coach Shukri Conrad prefers Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram as openers, but the trio of left-handers—De Kock, de Zorzi, and Pretorius—are challenging for spots.