Quinton de Kock once again proved why he remains one of South Africa’s most destructive batters as his sensational century powered the Proteas to a series-clinching win against the West Indies in the second T20I at SuperSport Park, Pretoria.
Chasing a daunting target of 222, South Africa romped home by seven wickets with 15 balls to spare, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
The story of the match became even more remarkable when de Kock revealed that he had forgotten his bats back on the coast before traveling to the Highveld.
Forced to borrow a bat from young teammate Dewald Brevis, the senior opener turned the situation into a memorable performance.
Using Brevis’ bat, de Kock smashed a career-best 115 off just 49 balls, striking six fours and ten towering sixes in a breathtaking display of power hitting.
De Kock reached his half-century in just 21 balls and brought up his century off 43 deliveries, the same number of balls he had taken to score a hundred against West Indies at the same venue in 2023.
His innings showcased complete control, with no line or length proving safe for the visiting bowlers on a batting-friendly wicket.
Ryan Rickelton played the perfect supporting role, scoring an unbeaten 77 off 36 balls.
The left-handed duo added a match-defining 162 runs for the second wicket in just 71 deliveries, effectively sealing the chase long before the final overs.
South Africa finished on 225 for 3 in only 18.3 overs, registering one of their highest successful run chases at the venue.
Earlier, the West Indies posted a strong 221 for 4 after being sent in to bat. Shimron Hetmyer led the charge with a fluent 75 off 42 balls, while Brandon King contributed 49 at the top.
Sherfane Rutherford provided late fireworks with an unbeaten 57 off 24 balls, ensuring the tourists crossed the 220 mark.
South Africa’s bowling effort was highlighted by spinner Keshav Maharaj, whose controlled spell helped restrict the West Indies from pushing the total closer to 240. His timely wickets proved crucial in keeping the chase manageable.
With this victory, South Africa not only sealed the series but also ended a run of five consecutive bilateral T20 series defeats.
The final match will be played at The Wanderers, Johannesburg, before both teams shift focus to preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
