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QUINTON DE KOCK and Hashim Amla shared a record-breaking day to set up the Castle Lager Proteas for another massive victory by 134 runs over India in the second Momentum ODI at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead on Sunday and a series triumph with a match to spare. Match three is at Centurion on Wednesday.
De Kock completed back-to-back ODI centuries to match the performances of Amla and Herschelle Gibbs while Amla notched up his 12th ODI century and in the process became the quickest batsman to score 4 000 ODI runs, doing so in four matches and seven innings faster than the legendary Sir Vivian Richards.
De Kock became the fourth batsman – the others are Peter Stirling of Ireland and Shahriah Nafees and Tamim Iqbal, both of Bangladesh – to score three ODI centuries before his 21st birthday. He comes of age on Tuesday week.
The partnership of 190 between De Kock and Amla was also a ground record, beating the 170 by Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist for Australia in 2002.
To cap it all De Kock won his second successive Man-of-the-Match award.
Although the Proteas middle-order did not push on quite as much as they would have liked after this foundation, their total of 280 was always going to represent a tough chase for India who had once again decided to field first.
It became even more difficult when the South African pace attack continued from where they had left off at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium. Lonwabo Tsotsobe (4/25) and Dale Steyn (3/17) shared seven wickets between them while Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander, who replaced Wayne Parnell in the only change to the Proteas side, picked up the rest.
India were bowled out with almost 15 overs to spare with Suresh Raina’s 36 being their top score.
The South African fielding was outstanding with both David Miller and AB de Villiers taking outstanding catches.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) congratulated the Proteas Castle Lager squad on their series win.
“This is a fantastic performance by any standard,” commented CSA Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat. “To beat the world champions in such fine style is a top-class achievement and the players and management are to be congratulated on what they have achieved.
“It is rewarding and good progress as they work towards developing their ODI game ahead of the 2015 edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup.
“Above all, it has been a wonderful way to celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela and deliver his legacy. He has been a huge inspiration to our players and I'm sure today will be a day to be remembered.”
