Johannesburg – Quinton de Kock scored his second ODI century to help South Africa post an imposing 358 for four batting first in their opening match of the series against India at the Wanderers on Thursday.
De Kock (135 runs, 121 balls, 18x4,3x6) was in typical aggressive mood, and with the experienced Hashim Amla (65 runs,88b, 5x4, 1x6) at the other end put together an opening stand of 152.
After Amla fell, de Kock continued unabated as he moved toward three figures.
De Kock moved to 98 with a huge six over midwicket and then had no problem as he brought up his century off 101 balls. The 20-year-old was eventually out for 135 caught and bowled by Virat Kohli, with the Proteas on 247 for 3 in the 42nd over.
After de Kock left the scene, AB de Villiers (77 runs, 47 balls, 6x4,4x6) and JP Duminy (59* runs, 29b,2x4,5x6) shared in an explosive partnership of 105 runs off 46 balls which was instrumental in South Africa posting the huge score.
Earlier, after the first over went for just two runs, Bhuvneshwar Kumar dished up a delivery on the pads of de Kock who dispatched the ball through midwicket for four to get the innings going.
Both Amla and de Kock took a liking to the Indian bowling attack and scored with ease in the opening overs.
Amla hit the first six of the innings off the final ball of the eighth over. Kumar strayed onto the pads of the batsman, and Amla with a nonchalant flick and superb timing, dispatched the ball way over the boundary for a mammoth six.
Together the pair raced to their 50 partnership in the 10th over, and they continued their dismantling of the Indian bowlers on their way to the 100 stand. De Kock brought up the three figure score for his team with a typical heave through midwicket, which marked the first time in 69 ODIs South Africa had passed the 100
mark for the first wicket partnership.
The stand was finally broken with the score on 152. Amla attempted to play the ball fine off a Mohammed Shami delivery, but played on and was bowled for 65.
Jacques Kallis came to the middle, and attempted to smash his way through his opening overs. After hitting two fours, Kallis played his third aerial stroke but only succeeded in gifting an easy catch to Ravindra Jadeja at cover off the bowling of Mohammed Shami. – Sapa