Watch: At the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, Quinton de Kock pulled Pat Cummins for six to reach his second consecutive World Cup hundred.
Ahead of the 2023 World Cup, Quinton de Kock announced that he would retire from ODIs after the tournament. Although his ODI record – 6,176 runs, 44.75, strike rate of 96 – was excellent when he arrived in India, his performance in the World Cup was mediocre.
In 17 matches in the 2015 and 2019 editions, de Kock scored a total of 450 runs with 30 runs and a strike rate of 86. He couldn’t even convert his 50 points into his 4 points or his 80 points.
He rectified this flaw with an 84-ball 100 (12 fours, three sixes) in the opening match of the South African tournament, a record-breaking against Sri Lanka in Delhi .
Also against Australia at the IPL home ground in Lucknow, de Kock reached his first fifty in 51 balls before switching gears. Even when he lost Themba Bavuma (35) and Rassie van der Dussen (26), his momentum remained undiminished. His second 50 pitched only him 39 pitches.
In the 30th over, Pat Cummins bowled a long delivery and de Kock took the first two balls for a two-and-single. Cummins then released Aiden Markram off his own bowling, conceding a run.
Cummins bowled a short ball this time, but de Kock noticed its length early. He guided his movement to mid-off and the ball flew over deep midwicket into the stands, scoring 100 from 90 balls.
He ultimately lost out to Glenn Maxwell, who scored 109 off 106 balls. By that point his World Cup batting average had risen to 38.76, his strike rate to 92 and his number of sixes from four to 12. He also achieved his 100th appearance in his first two World Cups.
At the time of writing, South Africa were 219-3 from 38 overs with Aiden Markram (26) and Heinrich Claassen (13) at the crease.
Watch Quinton de Kock hit Pat Cummins for six to bring up his hundred:
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