Birthday special: Quinton de Kock – His top 5 knocks in international cricket
Quinton De Kock is an integral part of the South African batting lineup, in all formats of the game. The left-handed batter has featured in 53 Tests, 124 ODIs and 61 T20Is for the Proteas. While he has scored 3245 runs in the whites, De Kock has plundered 5355 runs in the ODI format.
In T20Is, he has scored close to 2000 runs at an average of 33.83. As De Kock turns 29 today, let us take a look at the top 5 knocks from his willow in international cricket.
79* vs India (T20Is)
On 22nd September 2019, Quinton De Kock played a dazzling knock against the Indian side at Bangalore. India batted first and posted 134/9 in their 20 overs. In reply, Quinton De Kock reduced the match into a no-contest.
The left-hander scored a whirlwind 79* at a strike rate over 150, as South Africa demolished their opposition by 9 wickets.
104 vs Australia (Tests)
In November 2016, Australia and South Africa squared off against each other at Hobart. Australia were shot out for just 85 in the 1st innings, with Vernon Philander scalping a five-wicket haul. In reply, South Africa scored 326, with Quinton De Kock leading the way with a 143-ball 104.
The Aussies were bowled out for 161 in the second innings, as the Proteas pulverized the kangaroos by an innings and 80 runs.
129 vs England (Tests)
The 129 that Quinton De Kock scored against England in a Test match in the year 2016 grabs the 3rd place. South Africa batted first and piled up a total of 475, with Stephen Cook, Hashim Amla and Quinton De Kock slamming centuries.
The pace at which De Kock scored his runs shattered the England bowling attack. The left-hander scored a 128-ball 129 and took the attack to the opposition. In reply, England were bowled out for 342. South Africa declared their second innings with their scorecard reading 248/5, setting their opponents a target of 382. England folded up for just 101 in their second innings, as the Proteas decimated the visitors by 280 runs.
135 vs England (ODIs)
Quinton De Kock’s blistering assault at the top of the order paved the way for South Africa to chase down a tricky target of 319 set by England at Centurion. England posted a total over 300 courtesy of Joe Root, who scored a brilliant 125.
In reply, Hashim Amla and Quinton De Kock put on a match-winning partnership of 239 runs for the opening wicket. Both these batters scored centuries, with De Kock being the aggressor, scoring a 117-ball 135. The Amla-De Kock duo helped the Proteas thrash England by 7 wickets.
178 vs Australia (ODIs)
This will go down as the greatest knock played by Quinton De Kock in his career. In this encounter, Australia batted first and scored 294/9. In reply, it was the ‘De Kock’ special that just blew away the kangaroos.
The left-hander scored a marauding 178 off just 113 deliveries and struck a colossal 16 fours and 11 sixes in his stay out in the middle. De Kock’s fireworks helped the Proteas chase down the target of 295 with 6 wickets and a whopping 13.4 overs to spare.
