Youngster De Kock shows his class
Talented opener hits brilliant century to help South Africa post big total in fourth one-dayer
ABU DHABI — Quinton de Kock has played only two matches so far in the one-day series between South Africa and Pakistan in the UAE, but the 20-year-old opener has already become the top run getter in the tournament, having scored 152 runs at a spectacular average of 76.
The left-hander, who made his mark in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Australia last year, smashed his maiden century when he hit 112 off 135 balls against Pakistan in the fourth one-dayer at the Shaikh Zayed Cricket Stadium here on Friday.
Kock, who made 40 off 57 balls in the third one-dayer at the same venue on Wednesday, completed his century with a powerful six over wide long on in Mohammad Irfan’s eighth over.
Kock, who hit a 63-ball 109 for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Otago Volts during the Champions League Twenty20 tournament this year, hit one six and nine boundaries in his entertaining knock on Friday. South Africa were set to post more than 280 at one stage, but a late fight back from Pakistan bowlers helped restrict the opposition to 266 for five in 50 overs.
Pakistan, who were dismissed for 191 while chasing 260 for victory at the same venue, need an improved batting performance if they want to make it 2-2. South Africa will clinch the series with a victory here, but a win for Pakistan will make the final one-dayer interesting at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Kock was involved in three crucial partnerships which guided South Africa to a good score on a perfect batting strip.
The opener added 87 runs for the first wicket with Hashim Amla, 42 for the second with Faf du Plessis and 69 for the third with skipper AB de Villiers. Amla, who was dismissed cheaply in the third onedayer in Abu Dhabi, was at his attacking best on Friday and gave an excellent start to South Africa.
The Amla-Kock opening duo made some quick runs, with the elegant right-hand batsman smashing six boundaries in his 50-ball 46. Mohammad Hafeez gave the breakthrough in the 19th over, clean bowling Amla.
De Villiers too chipped in with an useful 30 off 40 balls with two hits to the fence.
Hafeez turned out to be the most effective bowler as the all-rounder operated an economical spell of 2-34 from nine overs. Pacer Junaid Khan, who played his first match in the ODI series here, too had a twowicket haul, while giving away 42 from his nine.
Saeed Ajmal proved expensive as the star spinner went for 53 runs from his quota of 10 overs, with his last over – 49th in the innings – going for 15 runs. Mohammad Irfan was also a bit wayward but bagged one wicket for 51 from eight overs. South Africa, despite losing their way during the batting power-play, finished on a high thanks to an unbeaten 52 runs from 6.2 overs for the sixth wicket from Jean-Paul Duminy and Ryan McLaren.
All-rounder McLaren hammered three fours and one six in his 21ball 28, while Duminy remained not out on 25 off 21 deliveries with one six and one four.
Earlier, Pakistan gave an ODI debut to 26-year old batsman Sohaib Maqsood. They have also dropped out-of-form batsman Umar Amin and paceman Wahab Riaz from the final eleven.