South Africa’s Quinton de Kock showcased a stellar performance, smashing an unbeaten 123 off 104 deliveries to guide his team to an emphatic eight-wicket triumph over Pakistan in the second ODI, leveling the series at 1-1. The Proteas successfully chased down a target of 270 with a comfortable 59 balls to spare.
De Kock’s 22nd ODI century was the centerpiece of South Africa’s chase. Making a strong comeback to international cricket, he anchored the innings after an aggressive start by Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who scored a quick 46. De Kock combined forces with Tony de Zorzi, forging a formidable 153-run partnership that ensured South Africa faced minimal pressure and cruised to victory.
Following a solid 81-run opening stand between Pretorius and De Kock, De Zorzi played a vital supporting role with a brisk 76, including a rapid 27 runs off 13 deliveries against Mohammad Nawaz. Their alliance shifted the momentum decisively towards South Africa, with De Kock calmly reaching his half-century and later his century with a six over cover off Salman Ali Agha.
Despite utilizing eight bowlers, Pakistan struggled to make breakthroughs at crucial junctures. De Kock’s controlled aggression in the latter stages, coupled with South Africa’s disciplined batting approach, ensured a comfortable victory with almost ten overs to spare, neutralizing Pakistan’s bowling attack effectively.
South Africa’s bowlers laid the groundwork for success earlier in the match. Nandre Burger (4/46) and Nqaba Peter (3/55) dismantled Pakistan’s top order, reducing them to 22/3 within the first five overs. Burger dismissed key batsmen like Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan to stifle Pakistan’s scoring early on.
Although Pakistan’s middle order was anchored by Saim Ayub (53) and Salman Ali Agha (69), their relatively slow strike rates below 90 impeded the momentum-building process. Mohammad Nawaz’s resilient 59, accompanied by two late sixes in partnership with Agha, propelled Pakistan to a modest total of 269/9.
Crucial turning points included South Africa’s early breakthroughs and the pivotal De Kock-De Zorzi partnership, which swung the match firmly in their favor. Despite a brief recovery by Pakistan’s middle order, the lack of aggressive intent prevented them from setting a challenging target. South Africa’s disciplined performance with both bat and ball ultimately made the defining impact.
With the series deadlock, the upcoming third ODI in Faisalabad will serve as the deciding fixture, concluding South Africa’s comprehensive all-format tour of Pakistan on Saturday, November 8.