De Kock Blasts 49-Ball Century with Borrowed Bat as South Africa Clinch Series
"It felt good to be back at Centurion in a Proteas jersey. We've been in this situation before at this ground—it's a high-scoring venue," De Kock said.
Quinton de Kock delivered a masterclass in power-hitting, smashing a blistering century to guide South Africa to a series-clinching seven-wicket victory over the West Indies in a high-scoring second T20I at SuperSport Park on Thursday.
Playing his 100th T20I innings, De Kock hammered 115 off just 49 balls, studded with 10 sixes and six fours, as the Proteas effortlessly chased down a daunting target of 222 with 15 balls to spare. This victory gives South Africa an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series ahead of the final game in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Remarkably, De Kock’s century came using a borrowed bat belonging to teammate Dewald Brevis. "I made a mistake. I left some bats at home," the wicketkeeper-batter revealed after the match.
The chase was orchestrated by a massive 162-run partnership for the second wicket between De Kock and Ryan Rickelton. Rickelton, who was dropped on 17, capitalized on the reprieve to finish unbeaten on 77 off 36 balls.
De Kock’s innings was historic on multiple fronts. With his first boundary, he became only the second South African after Faf du Plessis to cross 12,000 runs in T20 cricket. Moments later, he surpassed Du Plessis to become South Africa’s all-time leading run-scorer in the format.
Coincidentally, both of De Kock’s T20I centuries have come at Centurion against the West Indies, in successful chases of 220-plus totals, and both times he reached three figures off exactly 43 balls. The previous instance was in 2023 when South Africa chased down a world-record 259.
Earlier, West Indies posted a formidable 221 for 4, powered by Shimron Hetmyer (75 off 42) and a whirlwind unbeaten 57 off 24 balls from Sherfane Rutherford. Opener Brandon King chipped in with 49. However, on a batting paradise at Centurion, even 221 proved insufficient against De Kock’s onslaught.
"It felt good to be back at Centurion in a Proteas jersey. We've been in this situation before at this ground—it's a high-scoring venue," De Kock said.