Proteas batter Quinton de Kock celebrates his century against Australia on Thursday. Picture: Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images
South Africa made another statement on Thursday, with opening batter Quinton de Kock laying the foundation in a clinical all-round performance by the Proteas, as they swept Australia aside to stay unbeaten at the Cricket World Cup.
The SA team secured a crushing 134-run victory, lifting them to the top of the round robin log. Though they were equal on four points with New Zealand, India and Pakistan, they led the standings with a superior net run-rate.
Chasing 312 to win in Lucknow, Australia’s top order were throttled by the Proteas pace attack, spearheaded by Lungi Ngidi (1/18) who gave away only nine runs from his first five overs.
Kagiso Rabada, who had two decisions overturned with successful reviews, returned the best figures (3/33). He also did well to prevent any big partnerships from building.
Australia were restricted to 70/6 in the 18th over, and while Marnus Labuschagne (46) and Mitchell Starc (27) combined in a battling 69-run stand for the seventh wicket, they were left with far too much work to do to put up a real fight. They were removed just seven deliveries apart, and their team were eventually bowled out for 177.
Earlier, De Kock made his second successive century, carrying South Africa’s batting line-up to 311/7.
The Proteas made a solid start after being sent in to bat by Australia, with De Kock and captain Temba Bavuma laying the foundation in a 108-run partnership for the first wicket.
Bavuma was removed in the 20th over when he was caught by David Warner after contributing a patient 35 runs off 55 balls, and 15 overs later De Kock sliced a delivery from spin bowler Glenn Maxwell onto his stumps. He compiled 109 runs off 106 balls for his 19th career ODI ton, hitting five sixes and eight fours.
After De Kock fell, Aiden Markram played a key role in picking up the pace in the latter stages of the Proteas’ innings, adding 56 runs from 44 deliveries.
“A great win for the boys. We assessed the conditions well, played accordingly, stuck to our strengths and came out on top,” De Kock said after the game.
He warned, however, that there was a long way to go in the tournament. With seven matches remaining in the first round, he said they could not get ahead of themselves.
“We are pretty pleased with ourselves, but only two games in, anything can happen and quickly,” he said, “so we won’t get too high, just take it game by game.”
After being handed their second straight defeat, Australia were one of only four teams – alongside Sri Lanka, Netherlands and Afghanistan – who had not picked up a point from their opening two matches of the tournament.
They will next face Sri Lanka, with both sides searching for their first victory, in Lucknow on Monday.
South Africa will face the Netherlands in their third match of the campaign in Dharamshala on Tuesday.
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