South Africa’s Quinton de Kock celebrates his century through the second T20 cricket match between South Africa and West Indies, at Centurion Park, in Pretoria, South Africa on March 26, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AP
South Africa set a brand new record for chasing in worldwide T20 cricket after they scored 259 for 4 to beat West Indies by six wickets at Centurion on Sunday in a recreation described as “pretty crazy”.
Johnson Charles smashed a 39-ball century for the guests as they posted an imposing 258 for 5, the joint sixth-highest whole in T20 internationals.
However, Quinton de Kock responded with 100 from 44 balls, a maiden T20I century, whereas fellow opener Reeza Hendricks hit 68.
“It was pretty, pretty crazy. When we came off halfway, we thought we had enough,” stated West Indies skipper Rovman Powell.
“But credit to Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks. They applied pressure from ball one.”
South Africa captain Aiden Markram (38 not out) noticed his aspect residence with seven balls to spare.
The earlier highest run chase was Bulgaria’s 246 to beat Serbia in 2022 whereas Australia made 245 to beat New Zealand in 2018.
“It was quite special. Reeza was the silent assassin. When I got out he said, ‘We just did something really special and we should be proud of what we’ve done’,” stated De Kock whose innings was laced with 9 fours and eight sixes.
“We have played together for so long. We know what he can do.”
De Kock shared a gap stand of 152 in 10.5 overs with Hendricks to arrange the win.
Hendricks’ 28-ball assault on the West Indies bowlers featured 11 fours and two sixes.
De Kock clubbed three sixes off successive balls from Sheldon Cottrell in a second over which yielded 29 runs.
‘Used to losing’
South Africa scored 102 runs in the six-over energy play, a record in matches between Test nations.
Asked how he approached his innings, De Kock stated: “Just pick the right options and play with a bit of hope. Playing at Centurion, we know we can get a lot of runs here.”
Thirty-five sixes and 46 fours had been hit because the Centurion floor lived as much as its fame as a high-scoring venue with its true pitch, quick outfield and bounds that proved too quick in the skinny air of the South African highveld, significantly for the West Indian power-hitters.
The powerfully-built Charles made 118 off 46 balls, hitting 11 of his crew’s 22 sixes in addition to 10 fours.
His century was the quickest for the West Indies, and the equal fourth-fastest in the format.
“We tell him to go hard. We give him a licence to hit. He played very well today,” stated Powell.
However, he added ruefully: “This is the seventh game I’ve been on the T20 circuit that we scored 240 or 250 runs and we lost so I’m quite used to it now.”
West Indies clawed their method again when South Africa batted with Powell utilizing Raymon Reifer and himself to “take the pace off” with slow-medium bowling.
South Africa nonetheless wanted 41 off the final 4 overs when Jason Holder had the harmful David Miller caught at long-off for 10.
Left-armer Reifer dismissed De Kock and conceded solely 24 runs off his first three overs.
But his final over, the seventeenth of the innings, value 18 runs together with a sequence of 4, 6, 4 by Markram to take away any nervousness by the house crew.
“It was a great game to be a part of,” stated Markram.
“All in all I think both teams can appreciate it.”
The sequence is tied at 1-1. The remaining match might be on the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
