Pretorius and De Kock shine, but rest of Proteas batters fall away in first ODI in Faisalabad

Pretorius and De Kock Lead Proteas in First ODI

Half-centuries by openers Квинтон де Кок and Люандр Преториус helped the Proteas reach 263 runs in their first One Day International against Pakistan in Faisalabad on Tuesday.

Strong Opening Partnership

The Proteas' opening duo shared a 98-run stand that set a solid foundation for the team. Pretorius, one of three debutants alongside Sinethemba Qeshile and Donovan Ferreira, impressed with aggressive stroke play, especially driving and playing shots square of the wicket.

De Kock, returning from retirement post-2023 World Cup semi-final, took a bit longer to settle but hit a six to bring up the 50-run partnership with flair.

Pretorius' Maiden ODI Fifty

The 19-year-old Pretorius reached his first ODI half-century off 47 balls, featuring seven fours and a six. His attacking approach was instrumental until he was dismissed trying to drive a ball outside the off stump, caught at point by Mohammad Nawaz.

"Pretorius was fulfilling a dream by walking out to open the innings for the Proteas with his childhood hero De Kock."

Despite the strong start, other Proteas batsmen struggled to build on the foundation.

Debutants in Focus

Overall, the opening partnership provided hope, but the middle and lower order fell short of capitalizing on the platform.

Summary: Pretorius and De Kock's powerful opening stand was the highlight of the Proteas' innings, but the rest of the batting lineup struggled to maintain momentum in the first ODI against Pakistan.

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dailynews.co.za dailynews.co.za — 2025-11-05

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