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De Kock century helps South Africa beat Pakistan in second ODI | The Express Tribune
The visitors’ victory levelled the three-match series at 1-1 after Pakistan won the first match by two wickets
South Africa’s Quinton de Kock (R) celebrates with South Africa’s captain Matthew Breetzke (L) at the end of the second ODI against Pakistan at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on November 6. PHOTO: AFP
FAISALABAD:
Quinton de Kock hit a brilliant century and Nandre Burger grabbed four wickets as South Africa thumped Pakistan by eight wickets in their second one-day international on Thursday.
Playing his second ODI after reversing his 2023 decision to retire from the format, the dashing De Kock smashed an unbeaten 123 to anchor a 270-run chase with 9.5 overs in spare at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad.
South African victory levelled the three-match series at 1-1 after Pakistan won the first match by two wickets. The third and final match is on Saturday, all in Faisalabad.
De Kock put on a solid 81 for the opening wicket with Lhuan-dre Pretorius (46), before compiling a 153-run stand for the second wicket with Tony de Zorzi, who scored an attractive 63-ball 76.
The left-handed trio took the attack to Pakistan’s pace quartet, with De Kock knocking eight fours and seven sixes while Pretorius had seven boundaries and one maximum.
De Kock reached his 22nd ODI hundred with a couple off a luckless Mohammad Wasim, who saw Mohammad Nawaz drop the wicketkeeper-batter on 15.
De Zorzi sped up the scoring rate with three sixes and nine boundaries before he was caught off Faheem Ashraf with 36 needed.
Skipper Matthew Breetzke took the winning single, making 17 not out.
“I set myself high goals so I am happy to bat well today,” said De Kock. “I think Nandre set us well with early wickets and then we batted well to chase that down.”
Earlier, South African fast bowler Burger registered his best ODI figures of 4-46 to keep the home team down to 269-9.
The 30-year-old ripped out Pakistan’s first three wickets in his opening three overs after the hosts won the toss and batted.
From 22-3, however, the hosts rebuilt the innings and half-centuries from opener Saim Ayub and Salman Agha, who added 92 for the fourth wicket, and later from Nawaz helped them to a fighting total.
Burger struck with his third delivery, having opener Fakhar Zaman caught behind by De Kock for a duck.
He then struck twice in his third over: crowd favourite Babar Azam was caught in the slips for 11 from the first ball and four balls later Mohammad Rizwan chopped on to his stumps for four.
Ayub hit 53 off 66 balls with a six and five fours, while Agha made a more docile 69 from 106 deliveries with five boundaries as the pair revived the innings.
Ayub hit his second ODI fifty before giving Corbin Bosch a return catch in the 25th over, while Agha was bowled by Bosch in the 41st.
Down the order, Nawaz blasted a run-a-ball 59 with four sixes and three fours while all-rounder Faheem made 28 as Pakistan plundered 90 runs in the final 10 overs.
“I think we put up a good total but did not bowl and field well,” said Shaheen. “We will come back strongly.”
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Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper piled onto the Kansas City Chiefs’ dismal season on Saturday night.
The Broncos clinched the AFC West title for the first time since 2015 after the Los Angeles Chargers lost to the Houston Texans. The Chiefs have been on top of the division since 2016 with Alex Smith and Patrick Mahomes leading the charge.
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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun (19) throws a pass as he is hit by Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper (0) and Denver Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto (15) during the first quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Dec. 25, 2025 (Denny Medley/Imagn Images)
Cooper made his feelings about the Chiefs clear with explicit posts directed at the franchise.
“F— the Chiefs,” he wrote on X. “B—h made a– pansies.”
Cooper has been a bright spot for the Broncos’ defense over the last three seasons. He hasn’t missed a game since 2022. This year, he has eight sacks and 49 total tackles in 16 games. He’s a big reason why Denver’s defense has been one of the best throughout the season.
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Denver Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper (0) during warmups against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Oct. 5, 2025 (Eric Hartline/Imagn Images)
The Broncos are third in points allowed and yards allowed this season.
Denver defeated Kansas City on Thursday night to move to 13-3 on the season.
It was the first time the Broncos had hit the 13-win mark in a single season since 2013. In that season, the John Fox-led squad made the Super Bowl but lost to the Seattle Seahawks.
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The Broncos are hoping to replicate the 2015 season rather than 2013 with their impending playoff run this year.
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Olympic hopeful Jutta Leerdam, Jake Paul’s fiancée, bounces back after crushing fall during trials
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Dutch women’s speed skating hopeful Jutta Leerdam bounced back on Sunday in the 500-meter race as she hoped to make the Olympic team for the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.
Leerdam finished in second place behind Femke Kok in the race. Kok, who set the women’s 500-meter world record in November, had a time of 36.873. Leerdam finished with a time of 37.242.
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Jutta Leerdam participates in the Staatsloterij Olympic Qualification Tournament at THIALF in Heerenveen, Netherlands, on Dec. 26, 2025. (Caroline van Leusden/EYE4images/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
It was a much better than Friday’s result.
Leerdam, who is the fiancée of boxer Jake Paul, crashed and fell on the ice during the 1,000-meter event. She was seen in tears as she skated off the ice.
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Jutta Leerdam of the Netherlands looks dejected competing on the Women’s 500m on Day 1 of the Dutch Speed Skating Olympic Qualifiers at Thialf on Dec. 26, 2025 in Heerenveen, Netherlands. (Henk Jan Dijks/Marcel ter Bals/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
“I’m skating so well in practice. What those girls are skating here, I could have easily skated today,” she said, via Olympics.com. “I’ve skated 1:14 here 25 times, and I feel even better now than I have in the past two years. I’m really hitting it.”
There’s still hope for Leerdam to qualify for the Olympics as the national committee will ultimately make the determination as to whether Leerdam will mae the cut.
Leerdam won a silver medal in the 2022 Beijing Games in the 1,000-meter race. She finished just behind Japan’s Miho Takagi, who set an Olympic record time.
Jutta Leerdam of the Netherlands receives the gold medal for the women’s 1000m during the ISU Speed Skating World Cup at Utah Olympic Oval on Nov. 14, 2025. (Peter Creveling/Imagn Images)
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She skipped the 2025 ISU Speed Skating World Cup in Hamar, Norway, to focus on Olympic trials.
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Former Pakistan all-rounder Imad Wasim on Sunday announced his divorce after more than six years of marriage.
Citing privacy, the cricketer requested fans and followers not to share the couple’s old photos on social media.
Taking to the social media platform Instagram, Imad urged fans and media outlets to refrain from sharing old pictures of the couple.
“After much thought, and due to repeated conflicts that could not be resolved over the past few years, I have filed for divorce,” Imad wrote. “I sincerely request everyone to respect our privacy and avoid using or sharing any old couple photos.”
The 37-year-old further asked people not to refer to Sania as his spouse going forward and cautioned against speculation or misinformation surrounding the matter.
“I request everyone not to engage in or believe any misleading narratives. Any attempt to defame or involve others in this personal matter will be addressed through the proper legal channels if necessary,” he stated.
Imad also addressed the situation regarding their children, reaffirming his responsibilities as a father.
“Regarding the children, I remain their father and will continue to care for them fully and responsibly,” he added, concluding the statement by thanking supporters for their understanding and respect.
Meanwhile, Imad’s wife also took to Instagram and said, “Like many marriages, ours had difficulties, yet it continued to exist.”
Imad Wasim and Sania Ashfaq tied the knot in 2019, and they have three children.
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