Quinton de Kock of South Africa bats during game two of the ODI series against Pakistan at Iqbal Stadium on 6 November 2025 in Faisalabad, Pakistan. (Photo: Muhammad Sameer Ali / Getty Images) 
Quinton de Kock raised his bat for a 22nd one-day international (ODI) century in South Africa’s eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in Faisalabad on Thursday, 6 November 2025.
His undefeated knock of 123 off 119 deliveries in victory helped the Proteas draw the series level at 1-1 with the deciding match taking place tomorrow at the same Iqbal Cricket Stadium. This knock follows the 63 off 71 deliveries he struck in the opening match of the series.
It’s 32-year-old De Kock’s first white-ball tour with the Proteas since returning from retirement from ODI cricket at the conclusion of the last Cricket World Cup in 2023.
His last century (before this one) came in that tournament. He hit four hundreds in that tournament as he finished the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India as the third-highest run scorer.
Since then there has been a rapid emergence of two other southpaws. Tony de Zorzi was his initial replacement in the ODI series following the World Cup against India.
De Zorzi and De Kock batted together on Thursday, sharing a crucial 153-run second-wicket partnership, with the former adding 76 of his own runs off 63 deliveries.
Both Johannesburg-raised left-handed top-order batters attended King Edward VII School (KES) boys’ school. The year De Zorzi started, De Kock finished up at the prestigious cricket school that produced other former national top-order batters such as Graeme Smith, Neil McKenzie and Stephen Cook.
“Batting with Quinny is pretty special when he’s in full flight, I don’t know many batters who are more scary to face for the opposition because he hits the ball everywhere and [he’s] so instinctive,” De Zorzi said.
“It was quite cool because I remember when I was 14 at KES, he was playing on the opposite field against [Hoërskool] Waterkloof. I never thought I’d be batting with him for South Africa. So, it was quite a cool moment, which I only kind of clocked afterwards.”
Mentor
The other exciting southpaw is 19-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius. Pretorius made his ODI debut in the opening match of the series against Pakistan, striking his first half-century in the format (57 off 60). He followed that up with more clean striking in the second (46 off 40), but was unable to kick on.
Pretorius was born in Potchefstroom but went to school at St Stithians College in Johannesburg before transferring to Cornwall Hill College in matric, which is in Centurion.
While living in Johannesburg, he spent several days on the grass embankment and stands of Wanderers Stadium watching the Lions — where De Kock played his domestic cricket — and admiring the free-flowing strokemaker.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2245338523.jpg "Tony de Zorzi of South Africa bats during game two of the ODI series on 6 November 2025 in Faisalabad, Pakistan. (Photo: Muhammad Sameer Ali / Getty Images)")
De Kock handed Pretorius his debut cap prior to the first ODI.
“He really calmed me down, I was very nervous,” Pretorius said. “I’ve always said I’ve looked up to Quinny since I could remember. It’s truly a dream come true.”
Despite the 13-year age gap between the two cricketers, Pretorius — who is a wicketkeeper-batter like his idol — was worried he had missed his opportunity of batting alongside De Kock.
“To be honest, I would have never thought I would play with him,” Pretorius said. “When he retired, I was really upset because it was always a dream since I was young to play with Quinny.
“And when he came back, I didn’t think I was going to play with him, I thought he might replace me.”
The pair shared a 98-run opening stand in the first ODI and an 81-run partnership in the second.
No regrets
While Pretorius has been living the dream watching De Kock bat, the latter has been equally impressed with the swashbuckling 19 year old.
“Lhuan-dre’s playing really nicely,” De Kock said. “I’ve only seen glimpses of him through our SA20 League.
“And now coming out here and playing with him, the kid’s highly, highly talented.
“He reminds me a little bit of my young self. He’s batting really nicely at the moment, he looks nice and free. He’s just playing everything on merit.
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2245323348.jpg "Lhuan-dre Pretorius in action in Faisalabad. (Photo: Muhammad Sameer Ali / Getty Images)")
“He’s doing really well for a 19 year old, [he] looks like he didn’t have pressure, like I felt like I did at 19.”
Does De Kock regret leaving the format for two years?
“To be fair, no,” was his blunt response. “I’ve come back and I’ve found a newfound energy that I think I lost over time playing so much international cricket all the time.
“I was just lucky enough that I actually retired early enough so I could still make a comeback. I don’t regret it, I’m very happy to be back.
“I want to be back, I want to be with the guys, I miss playing with the guys. Don’t get me wrong, but my break I think did me really well just to get my hunger back and to perform in international cricket again.”
Head coach Shukri Conrad has made it clear that his preferred opening batters — across formats — are Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram. With all three southpaws in Pretorius, De Zorzi and De Kock fighting it out to knock them off their perch, master De Kock is in a battle alongside his students. DM