KNYSNA NEWS - Quinton de Kock, who has called Knysna home for the past few years, was in fine form for South Africa in their recent T20I series against West Indies.
Despite them suffering a 2-1 loss, he was pivotal in South Africa's record-breaking triumph in the second T20I in which he scored his first-ever T20I century.
De Kock came into the T20I series against West Indies off the back of some good form for the Durban Super Giants in the inaugural SA20 competition earlier this year, as well as a well-played 48 in the second of three ODIs against West Indies.
The countries shared the ODI series spoils 1-1 after the first ODI rained out, with De Kock not playing in the third and final ODI.
Rain-affected first T20I
Despite his good form, De Kock's T20I series against West Indies got off to a nightmare start in the Proteas' three-wicket loss in the first T20I on Saturday 25 March.
With the game reduced to 11 overs a side due to rain, and South Africa batting first, De Kock was caught at short fine leg by Sheldon Cottrell off the bowling of Akeal Hosein with the first ball of the game.
He did however contribute behind the stumps, holding onto three catches during the West Indian innings, with the run chase going down to the final over before West Indies secured the win with three balls to spare.
Records aplenty
If the first T20I was anything to go by, the series ahead promised to be one for the books, and the second T20I on Sunday 26 March delivered on that promise as the record books were rewritten.
A simply ridiculous first innings from the West Indies saw them reach 258-5 in 20 overs, at the time the sixth-highest (now seventh) team total in a T20I. Johnson Charles was incredible with bat in hand, scoring 118 runs off only 46 balls. He brought his century up off 39 balls, the joint-fourth-fastest of all time and fastest by a West Indian. De Kock took one catch, but his most valuable contribution was yet to come.
With shades of the record-breaking "438 Game" against Australia in 2006, the Proteas had to achieve the highest-ever successful run chase in not only T20I history, but in any T20 cricket if they were to emerge victorious.
De Kock and opening partner Reeza Hendricks gave the Proteas the best possible chance of doing so, reaching 102-0 in the first powerplay – the most runs ever scored in a powerplay in T20I cricket – and 149-0 off the first 10 overs – also the most runs ever scored in the first 10 overs of a T20I innings.
De Kock's role in these feats was no small contribution. He brought up his first-ever T20I century off only 43 balls, the fastest ever by a South African. He fell only one ball later though, with the team on 152-1 after 10,5 overs, needing 107 runs off the remaining 55 balls.
It proved light work for the remaining batsmen as South Africa won the game with six wickets in hand and seven balls to spare.
This makes it the highest successful run chase in T20 cricket history, and means South Africa now holds the records for both the highest successful run chase in 50-over cricket as well as T20 cricket.
Not a fitting ending
With a lot to live up to, the third and final T20I on Tuesday 28 March was the series decider with the scores level at 1-1. Tasked with batting first, West Indies put together one hell of a team performance, with contributions up and down the batting line-up to reach 220-8 in their 20 overs. De Kock again claimed one catch, but the Proteas would need more of his heroics with the bat again.
Sadly they didn't come to fruition, as he only scored 21, and South Africa were restricted to 213-6 in their 20 overs.
This saw West Indies claim a seven-wicket victory, and yet another T20I series victory in South Africa – they are yet to lose a T20I series in SA. Despite the final match loss, the series will undoubtedly be remembered for the incredible and record-breaking second T20I.
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