In a commanding performance at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, South Africa defeated Pakistan by 8 wickets in the second ODI to level the three-match series 1-1. The spotlight of the match remained firmly on Quinton de Kock, who smashed a sensational unbeaten 123, marking one of his finest ODI innings on Asian soil.
De Kock, who recently returned from retirement, followed up his 63-run knock in the first ODI with a blockbuster century that completely dismantled Pakistan’s bowling attack. His innings also helped him surpass legendary South African batter Herschelle Gibbs in the list of most ODI centuries for South Africa.
De Kock Goes Past Gibbs; Registers 22nd ODI Hundred
De Kock reached his century in 99 balls, eventually finishing with 123 off 119 deliveries* including 8 fours and 7 sixes. With this knock, he now stands third in South Africa’s list of most ODI centuries:
Most ODI centuries for South Africa
- 27 – Hashim Amla
- 25 – AB de Villiers
- 22 – Quinton de Kock
- 21 – Herschelle Gibbs
- 17 – Jacques Kallis
Not just that — he also climbed to second place in the list of most ODI centuries as an opener, just behind Kumar Sangakkara.
Pakistan’s Early Collapse Hurt Their Chances
Batting first, Pakistan got off to a disastrous start.
- Fakhar Zaman fell for 0,
- Babar Azam for 11,
- Mohammad Rizwan for 4.
South African pacer Nandre Burger was exceptional with the new ball, picking up all three early wickets and ending with 4 wickets in his spell. Pakistan were reduced to 22/3, losing complete control of the innings.
Saim, Salman, and Nawaz Steady the Innings
Despite the collapse, Pakistan’s middle order tried to rebuild:
- Saim Ayub – 53
- Salman Ali Agha – 69
- Mohammad Nawaz – 59
These contributions helped Pakistan reach 269/9, but with the pitch easing out under lights, the total proved insufficient.
Nqabayomzi Peter also bowled well for South Africa, taking 3 wickets, ensuring Pakistan never fully recovered.
South Africa’s Run Chase: Dominant from Ball One
Chasing 270, South Africa showed complete authority. Luan-dre Pretorius supported de Kock brilliantly with a quick 46 off 40 balls, adding 81 runs for the opening wicket.
Once Pretorius departed, Tony de Zorzi joined de Kock and together the duo stitched a massive 153-run partnership, the second-highest for South Africa in Pakistan.
Largest SA partnerships in Pakistan (ODIs)
- 159 – Pollock & Smith, Multan (2007)
- 153 – De Kock & De Zorzi, Faisalabad (2025)
De Zorzi himself played a fluent knock of 76 off 63, ensuring Pakistan had no chance to bounce back.
South Africa reached the target in 40.1 overs, sealing a convincing win and showing strong intent ahead of the series decider.
Highest Individual ODI Scores vs Pakistan (South Africa)
- 128 – AB de Villiers, 2013
- 124 – Daryll Cullinan, 1996
- 123 – Rassie van der Dussen, 2021*
- 123 – Quinton de Kock, 2025*
With this knock, de Kock now joins the top names with his highest ODI score against Pakistan.
With the series now tied at 1-1, both teams will head into the final ODI on November 8 with everything to play for. South Africa will carry strong momentum, while Pakistan will look for answers to their top-order failure and inconsistent bowling.
