South Africa’s experienced wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock scripted history at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. De Kock scored 59 runs from 41 balls to become South Africa's leading run-scorer in T20 World Cup history which belonged to legendary AB de Villiers.
De Villiers whose last T20 World Cup appearance was in 2016, scored 717 runs from 29 innings at an average of 29.87 and strike rate of 143.40. He scored five fifties in the mega event.
De Kock goes past ABD and Williamson
De Kock scored his fifty T20 World Cup fifty as well. From 29 innings, he has amassed 737 runs at an average of 26.32 and strike rate of 134.24. However, De Villiers has 2 more sixes (30) than de Kock in T20 World Cups.
Currently, De Kock is the ninth-highest run-scorer in T20 World Cups. In addition to De Villiers, he also went past former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson who has 727 runs from 29 innings.
De Kock, Rickelton’s impactful partnership
On February 11, Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan won the toss and opted to bowl first. De Kock lost his opening partner Aiden Markram early in the powerplay overs. He was joined by Ryan Rickelton in the middle. The two southpaws used the fielding restrictions. They nullified the Afghan spin challenge in the first half of the middle overs.
De Kock reached his fifty from 34 balls. Two balls later, Rickelton got the milestone from just 23 deliveries. The partnership was eventually broken by Afghan skipper. The leg-spinner got rid of both De Kock and Rickelton in the same over. After 13 overs, South Africa were 127/3.
De Kock and Rickelton shared an 114-run partnership for the second wicket from 61 balls. This is South Africa's third-highest partnership for any wicket in T20 World Cups. De Kock hit five fours and three sixes in his 41-ball 59. Rickelton smashed four sixes and five fours in his 28-ball 61.