Pretorius Describes Batting with Quinton de Kock as a Dream Come True
Lhuan-dre Pretorius called it "a dream come true" to bat alongside Quinton de Kock during his ODI debut against Pakistan in Faisalabad on Tuesday. The 19-year-old scored 57 runs off 60 balls and shared a 98-run opening stand with De Kock, who made 63 runs from 71 deliveries—his first significant innings since returning from international retirement.
Match Highlights and Personal Reflection
Although South Africa lost by two wickets, Pretorius cherished the experience, having grown up admiring his partner. He said,
"This was amazing. In the first two overs he didn’t face a ball and I took all the strike, so I felt quite bad. I’ve looked up to Quinny ever since I can remember … it truly is a dream come true."
Thoughts on De Kock’s Retirement and Return
Pretorius revealed his feelings when De Kock retired last year: "I was really upset because it was always a dream to play with Quinny." When De Kock returned to the team, Pretorius didn’t expect to play alongside him and joked, "I actually thought he might replace me."
Pretorius’ Personal Goals
Discussing his performance, Pretorius expressed satisfaction but also eagerness to improve:
"I haven’t scored runs of late, so I was really nervous going into this one. I would have liked to kick on and get 100 – but that’s cricket, and I’ll take any runs I can get."
His debut was a promising start, signaling potential for growth in future matches.
Author’s summary: Pretorius’s debut alongside his idol Quinton de Kock was a meaningful milestone, fueling his ambition despite South Africa’s narrow loss.