'A dream come true': Pretorius shines with childhood hero De Kock

Rising star Lhuan-dré Pretorius could not hide his joy after batting alongside his childhood idol, Quinton de Kock, during South Africa’s opening one-day international against Pakistan in Faisalabad on Tuesday.

The two openers combined for an energetic 98-run partnership in what turned out to be a narrow two-wicket loss for the Proteas. It marked De Kock’s return to the national ODI lineup after a two-year break and Pretorius’s memorable debut.

“We did open the batting in Namibia but it didn’t count – Quniny went out quite early – so this was amazing,” said Pretorius after the match. “The first two overs he didn’t face a ball.”

De Kock, playing his first ODI since November 2023, struck 63 runs off 71 deliveries, while Pretorius contributed 57 from 60 balls. The partnership reflected a dream fulfilled for Pretorius, who once took a childhood photo with De Kock in 2017 that later went viral online.

Stats and context

Match: South Africa vs Pakistan, ODI series opener in Faisalabad.
Partnership: 98 runs for the first wicket.
De Kock’s score: 63 (71 balls).
Pretorius’s score: 57 (60 balls, on debut).

Their brief yet impactful partnership offered a glimpse into South Africa’s promising batting depth and a touching moment of generational connection on the field.

Author’s Summary

Pretorius’s ODI debut alongside his hero De Kock became a heartfelt milestone that blended personal history with a powerful on-field performance for South Africa.

The Citizen — 2025-11-07