This batter smashed 17 ODI centuries before his maiden WC hundred
Reaching the three-figure mark irrespective of the format is a proud and special moment for any player. It adds to the personal milestone of his profile and also helps the team in a way. Scoring a century and picking up a five-wicket haul is one of the best achievements for a batter and a bowler respectively. To smash a ton in a global marquee tournament like the World Cup is even more remarkable and exceptional. But there are some players who have managed to achieve the feat regularly in series other than the World Cup before they finally got it there and one of them is Quinton de Kock.
Let’s take a look at the cricketer with the most hundred before a maiden WC hundred:
South Africa’s wicketkeeper batter Quinton de Kock, who recently announced his retirement from one-day internationals, had 17 centuries to his name but none of them came in the World Cup until the ongoing 2023 edition. The left-handed opening batter finally struck his first World Cup hundred in Africa’s opening encounter against Sri Lanka in Delhi.
De Kock, who made his ODI debut against New Zealand in Paarl ten years ago in 2013, played his first WC tournament in Australia and New Zealand in 2015. The 30-year-old dashing player also appeared in the next edition in England in 2019 but he failed to reach the three-figure mark in both the campaigns.
In both World Cups, de Kock played 17 innings and scored 450 runs at an average of 30.00 and a strike rate of 85.55. The southpaw struck four half-centuries with the highest score of 78*. Notably, the Proteas came close to reaching their maiden World Cup final in 2015 but lost a thrilling encounter against the host nation New Zealand in the semi-final.
Coming back to de Kock, the Proteas batter has started off the ongoing campaign in a brilliant manner as he has smashed two centuries in South Africa’s opening two matches. The second one came against a struggling Australia side in Lucknow. Against Sri Lanka, de Kock hammered 100 off just 84 with the help of 12 fours and three maximums at a strike rate of 119.05.
His good form continued as he slammed 109 off 106 with eight fours and five maximums at a strike rate of 102.83 against the Aussies. His team also began the tournament in winning ways with two victories, however, it was followed by a shocking defeat against the Netherlands.
De Kock would like to continue his rich vein of form and help his side in reaching the semi-finals first. Overall, the swashbuckling batter has played 147 ODIs in which he has scored 6385 runs at an average and strike rate of 45.60 and 96.15 respectively. He has 19 centuries and 30 half-centuries to his name with the best score of 178.
