Quinton de Kock: Protagonist of the Proteas' Caribbean conquest
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BY THE NUMBERS
Two Tests
237 runs at 118.50. 141* in the first Test, 96 in the second Test.
Three T20Is
135 runs at 45.00 with a strike rate of 142.10. 72 in the third T20I.
A COUNTER-ATTACKING MASTERCLASS IN ST.LUCIA
On a pitch aiding swing and seam movement, the Proteas' pacers had done a brilliant job restricting the hosts to 97 all out. The visitors though found themselves in a tricky situation towards the end of day one, with the score at 119/4. Quinton de Kock then walked out and took the game away from the Caribbean outfit.
Stumps on day two at St Lucia – a day dominated by @OfficialCSA after Quinton de Kock’s brilliant Test century.
— ICC (@ICC) June 11, 2021
West Indies finish the day at 82/4, trailing by 143.
WTC21 | #WIvSA | https://t.co/G2ifMadghC pic.twitter.com/jJkoDwe5R6
Clubbing twelve fours and seven sixes, the performance was a tour de force in taking the attack to the bowlers and stitching together partnerships with the tail. His unbeaten 141 was the sixth century of his Test career and helped his side clinch a victory by an innings and 63 runs.
CONTINUING HIS GOOD RUN IN THE SECOND TEST
The wicket-keeper-batsman again played a crucial knock to bail his side out in the second Test. Batting first in Gros Islet, South Africa found themselves in a precarious situation, after the middle-order failed to back skipper Dean Elgar who was batting at the other end. The onus was on de Kock to build a partnership with his captain.
Big wicket for West Indies!
— ICC (@ICC) June 19, 2021
Quinton de Kock misses out on a century as he is caught for 96. #WIvSA | https://t.co/XXnbG3ULEE | #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/4DDbrgdOTu
This time around, the knock was more reserved and composed in nature, as he batted patiently, waiting for the bad balls to punish. Missing a deserved century by a whisker, de Knock scored 96 which helped the Proteas post a score of 298 on the board. The bowlers then delivered the goods in both the innings as South Africa clinched a 158-run victory and won the series 2-0.
HELPING HIS SIDE TAKE A CRUCIAL SERIES LEAD
With the action moving to Grenada for the T20I series, the scoreline was evenly poised at 1-1 ahead of the third contest. Opening the batting, de Kock laid the perfect platform for his side to seal a victory and nudge ahead 2-1 in the series.
He scored 72 runs in only 51 deliveries, hitting five fours and two sixes. South Africa would end up posting a score of 167/8 on the board and win a thrilling encounter by 1 run.
Click here to vote for Quinton de Kock as the ICC Men’s Player of Month for June.