Win Projections to be updated soon
Lahore, 15 October 2025:
South Africa’s Tony de Zorzi credited mental resilience and adaptability for his second Test century as the visitors closed the third day of the first Test against Pakistan requiring 226 runs to win with eight wickets in hand at Gaddafi Stadium.
Speaking after play on Tuesday, de Zorzi said there was no “secret” to batting on a difficult pitch, emphasising the need to trust individual instincts and adapt to conditions.
“There’s no one-size-fits-all approach on these kinds of wickets,” de Zorzi said. “You have to back your game, trust your instincts and play to your strengths. Everyone has their own way — you can see that with guys like Salman and Rickleton.”
The left-hander, who made a century on a challenging surface, said his focus was on contributing to the team after returning from injury.
“It’s been a tough journey, missing time with injury, so this innings means a lot,” he said. “I just wanted to make a statement in tough conditions and help the team in any way I can.”
De Zorzi also praised his partnership with fellow left-hander Ryan Rickleton, who played a vital role in steadying the innings.
“Partnerships are everything on wickets like this,” he said. “It’s never easy to start here, collapses can happen quickly. We just tried to take it one ball at a time and keep each other focused.”
South Africa’s batters, de Zorzi said, had prepared specifically for spin-friendly conditions in Lahore.
“We knew spin would play a big part, so our selections and plans were based on that,” he said. “I think we’ve adapted well and stuck to what we talked about.”
Reflecting on his performance and recovery from injury, de Zorzi said mental strength was key.
“The mental battle is just as tough as the physical one,” he said. “Coming back from injury, you learn to stay patient, stay calm, and trust the process.”
The left hander said he was proud of how the team responded under pressure and believes South Africa remain in the contest heading into the fourth day.
“We’ve shown good fight so far,” de Zorzi said. “It’s still a challenging chase, but if we build partnerships and stay disciplined, anything is possible.”
