De Kock turns on the juice
Opener’s runs and Phehlukwayo’s wickets set up victory over Australia
NO AB. No Hash. No problem. There was Quinton de Kock. In 142 minutes of sheer mayhem, De Kock surged past Herschelle Gibbs’s epic 175 for the highest score by a South African against Australia.
This traditionally raucous audience had already witnessed a wonderfully mature performance from 20-year-old Andile Phehlukwayo, who earlier in the afternoon had claimed 4-44, with De Kock then topping off a magnificent day for the South Africans with a very special innings.
If there was any trepidation in the South African dressing room about tackling what numerically was a big chase – especially in the absence of the Proteas’ two finest batsmen – then De Kock assuaged any such tension with a thunderous early assault. He sustained the brilliance over the course of nearly two-and-a-half hours at the crease and the crowd were in raptures.
He received excellent assistance from Amla’s replacement at the top of the order, Rilee Rossouw, who pounded the ball murderously on his way to 63 off just 45 balls.
The openers brought up the hundred in the 12th over but, rather than coast, De Kock turned on the afterburners. The ball was dispatched to all parts – including a couple of scary incidents. One involved umpire Joel Wilson when a straight drive from De Kock hit him on the arm. Later, one of the 11 sixes struck by the lefthander hit a spectator on the head, which required medical assistance.
The Australians, who have left Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and a number of other quicks at home, copped a battering. None of the bowlers had economy rates below seven, and regardless of where they bowled, De Kock simply slayed them.
The only question was whether he could get past Gary Kirsten’s national one-day record of 188 not out against the UAE 10 years ago. Sadly he couldn’t, but it hardly mattered. He was there for 142 minutes and 113 balls, hitting 16 fours and 11 sixes in scoring 178.
The Australian batting plan in the first half of the day was a simple one – swing hard and often. David Warner and Aaron Finch set the tone against Dale Steyn, playing his first ODI since October last year, and Kagiso Rabada. The batting was brutal, the bowling inconsistent. South Africa didn’t want to appear to be predictable, but perhaps that messed with the minds of the bowlers, particularly Rabada and Wayne Parnell, who conceded a combined 119 runs off 18 overs. From Parnell there were too many half-volleys. Rabada’s lines were wayward.
Thankfully for Faf du Plessis, who had chosen to bowl first, there was Phehlukwayo to provide some control and rest the initiative away from the Australian batsmen.
He played his part in the dismissal of Warner – moving neatly to his right to poach a catch in the covers and give Parnell his only wicket.
Phehlukwayo’s double strike in the 13th over gave South Africa a way back into the innings. He shook off the assault from Finch in his first over, when he conceded 16, to dismiss the opener in his next over, Parnell taking a fine diving catch at short fine leg. Another big blow came three balls later when he trapped Australia’s captain Steve Smith lbw for just 8.
With the exception of George Bailey, who constructed a fine innings of 74, the remaining Australian batsmen kept going hard, but only John Hastings – batting at No 8 – contributed anything substantial.
Phehlukwayo added Mitchell Marsh to his tally – thanks to a fine diving catch by De Kock – and the wicket of Hastings, caught on the long-off boundary for 51.