De Kock’s century leads Proteas’ demolition of WI

CENTURION, South Africa (CMC):

Quinton de Kock warmed up for the T20 World Cup by smashing a boundary-studded century to lead South Africa’s superb run chase in a seven-wicket victory over the West Indies here yesterday.

De Kock unleashed his carnage in smashing 115 off just 49 balls, with 10 sixes and six fours, while Ryan Rickelton made an unbeaten 77 as the home side cantered to 225 for three in 17.3 overs in response to the Windies’ total of 221 for four at SuperSport Park.

It gave South Africa an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, with the final match to be played tomorrow.

De Kock’s efforts overshadowed an impressive showing with the bat by the West Indies, led by Shimron Hetmyer’s fantastic 75 off 42 balls, Sherfane Rutherford’s unbeaten 57 off 24 balls and Brandon King, who scored 49 at the top of the order.

Having been sent in to bat for the second straight match, skipper Shai Hope made little impact in his first game of the series, edging a delivery from Marco Jansen behind to the wicketkeeper to be out for four.

Hetmyer, however, continued his rich vein of form, dominating a 126-run partnership with King that put them on course to score 250.

He got off the mark in streaky fashion, top-edging Jansen for four over the keeper’s head but followed it up by hitting Kagiso Rabada for back-to-back boundaries off the first two balls of the next over.

King joined in on the fun, clobbering Anrich Nortje for three fours and two sixes in his first over that leaked 24 runs as West Indies rushed to 53 for one after five overs.

Hetmyer brought up his 50 off 28 balls and the Windies’ 100 with a towering six off Nortje in the 10th over that went for 22 runs.

Rabada eventually broke the partnership by having King caught at long on, one run short of a well-deserved half-century, to make the score 133 for two at the end of the 12th over.

His dismissal sparked a mini collapse that saw spinner Keshav Maharaj claim the wickets of Rovman Powell for two and Hetmyer in the space of three overs for just 12 runs, to see them slip to 145 for four.

Hetmyer’s innings contained eight fours and three sixes.

Rutherford then teamed up with Romario Shepherd to plunder 76 runs off the last 31 balls to propel West Indies to their eighth highest T20I total and third largest against South Africa.

Rutherford struck five fours and four sixes in his unbeaten knock, while Shepherd finished on 17 not out off 10 balls.

Maharaj was the pick of South Africa’s bowlers with 2-22 from his four overs.

In their run chase, South Africa’s captain, Aiden Markram, and de Kock put on 27 runs inside three overs before Markram pulled a short delivery from pacer Matthew Forde straight into the hands of Hetmyer stationed on the deep midwicket boundary.

Rickleton then joined fellow left-hander de Kock, and together, completely turned the tide of the match during a 162-run stand that broke the visitors’ spirits.

De Kock blazed to his half-century in just 21 balls by flicking Shepherd behind square for four as South Africa rocketed to 74 for one in the seventh over.

The West Indies wasted a perfect opportunity to break the deadlock with the score on 95, but Jayden Seales spilled a regulation catch at slip to dismiss Rickelton when he was 17 off the bowling of Jason Holder.

It proved to be a costly miss, with the partnership proving to be match-winning.

De Kock eventually reached his second T20I century off 43 balls by flicking Holder behind square for six.

By the time he was caught at cover off the bowling of Akeal Hosein to make the score 189 for two in the 15th over, the outcome was already decided.