Quinton de Kock played an excellent knock of 178 run against Australia AFP
Quinton de Kock played an excellent knock of 178 run against Australia AFP

South African opener Quinton de Kock, famous for his baby face, played a clobbering knock of 178-run against Australia in the first One-Day International (ODI) of the series against Australia at SuperSport Park, Centurion. South Africa were playing without their three big players AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Morne Morkel. After winning the toss, captain Faf du Plessis invited Australia to bat first. Aussie openers David Warner and Aaron Finch provided with an excellent start as they scored at a rate more than 7 runs per over till they lost their first wicket. After Warner’s dismissal, the Australian side kept losing wickets in regular interval till George Bailey and John Hashtings bailed their side from the trouble situation by scoring 74 and 51 respectively.

With Bailey and Hashtings’ knocks, Australia managed to post a good total of 294 on board but it looked pretty small for de Kock as he hammered Aussie bowlers all around. Not only de Kock, his opening partner Rilee Rossouw also did an excellent job in providing South Africa with a perfect start. Rossouw scored a 45-ball 63 and when he got out, de Kock was already set at the other end, batting in 80s. He completed his hundred off 74 deliveries and that too in style with a six over deep midwicket.

There was a time when double ton looked possible for de Kock but he got out after scoring his career best of 178 playing just 113 balls with 16 fours and 11 sixes. During the knock, many cricketers and fans praised him for his batting and started tweeting.

 

 

 

 

 

De Kock s knock helped South Africa win the match by 6 wickets with 82 balls remaining and take lead in the series by 1-0.