In a thrilling World Cup match, South Africa emerged victorious over Australia by 134 runs. The Proteas’ star player, Quinton de Kock, played a vital role in their triumph, scoring a stunning century and leading his team to a total of 311-7 in 50 overs.
De Kock, who has been in exceptional form throughout the tournament, notched up his second successive century at the World Cup. His innings of 109 off just 90 balls included eight fours and five sixes, showcasing his exceptional batting skills.
Australia, known for their strong cricketing prowess, struggled to chase down the target. They stumbled early, losing six wickets for just 70 runs.
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Realizing that victory was unlikely, the Australian team shifted their focus to improving their run-rate. However, their efforts were in vain as they were eventually dismissed for 177 with 55 balls to spare.
One of the factors that contributed to Australia’s downfall was their sloppy fielding. They dropped a total of five catches, giving the Proteas valuable opportunities to build their innings.
This proved to be costly as South Africa capitalized on the mistakes and posted a challenging total.
Quinton de Kock, who will retire from international cricket after the tournament, was playing in familiar surroundings at the Ekana Stadium. As a member of the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, De Kock was well-acquainted with the pitch and used his knowledge to his advantage.
The Proteas’ victory was met with admiration and praise from their opponents. Australian off-spinner Glenn Maxwell, who dismissed De Kock, expressed his frustration at the South African’s ability to consistently score runs against his team.
Maxwell referred to De Kock as a superstar and acknowledged his exceptional batting skills.
This victory has given South Africa a much-needed boost in the World Cup. After a disappointing start to the tournament, they have now gained momentum and will be looking to carry this forward in their upcoming matches.
