South Africa’s wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock has been in sensational form in the ongoing World Cup 2023. De Kock on November 1 against New Zealand scored his fourth century in World Cup 2023. With a 114-run knock against the Kiwis in Pune, De Kock broke Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara's record of most runs (541) in a World Cup edition as a designated wicketkeeper-batter.
De Kock became the first South African to score 500 or more runs in a World Cup edition. He has scored 545 runs from seven innings at an average of 77.86. The previous record was held by Jacques Kallis who scored 485 runs from nine innings.
The Proteas opener also broke the record for most sixes in World Cups by a wicketkeeper-batter. Australia's Adam Gilchrist held the previous record. Gilchrist had hit 19 sixes from 31 innings. With three sixes against the Kiwis, De Kock has 22 sixes in World Cups to his name now.
The 30-year-old is now only the third batter in World Cups to score four or more centuries in a single edition. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and Sangakkara are the other two batters in the elite list.
De Kock shared a 200-run partnership for the second wicket with Rassie van der Dussen. This is South Africa's fifth-highest partnership for South Africa in the ODI World Cup. Earlier, the two batters shared a 203-run partnership against Sri Lanka in Delhi.
The left-handed batter scored 114 runs from 116 balls featuring 10 fours and three sixes. He lost his wicket to Tim Southee in the 40th over of the innings. Van der Dussen scored 113 runs from 118 deliveries. David Miller's 30-ball 50 and some strikers from Heinrich Klaasen and Aiden Markram helped South Africa post 357/4.
“I am feeling really good lately. Nice that everything is coming together at an important time for us. They bowled really well upfront, especially Boulty. I felt quite scratchy upfront, I couldn't find my rhythm, I was getting a couple of messages from the guys on the bench to bat through. I just want to keep batting. My career is coming down to a finish, trying to bat as much as I can. If the wicket stays the same, it will be good enough. The wicket does get better under lights. 357 is always a good score, but we are playing against a really good team, let's see what happens,” De Kock told the broadcasters during innings break.
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