In a breathtaking display of cricket prowess, Quinton de Kock’s masterful century secured another resounding victory for South Africa in the 2023 ODI World Cup, this time against Bangladesh in Mumbai on Tuesday, October 24. De Kock’s exceptional performance, his third century in the tournament, catapulted South Africa to an imposing total.
De Kock, displaying remarkable form, registered the second-highest World Cup score by a South African batsman, while Heinrich Klaasen showcased his brutal best to provide the Proteas with a formidable finish to their innings. A staggering 217 runs were amassed in the last 20 overs, with 144 of them coming in the final 60 deliveries.
Although South Africa had a tentative start with the early loss of Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen during the initial PowerPlay, Bangladesh displayed unwavering intent both with the ball and in the field. The early wickets made it challenging for South Africa in the opening hour. However, de Kock and skipper Aiden Markram adapted wisely to the conditions and steadily constructed their partnership, recognizing that the Wankhede Stadium’s nature allows for catching up later on.
De Kock, in exceptional form from the outset, was well-supported by Markram as the partnership grew. As the pressure mounted on Bangladesh’s bowlers, Shakib Al Hasan finally broke the partnership by dismissing Markram. Nevertheless, the stage was set for the explosive Heinrich Klaasen to take charge in the middle order.
Klaasen, fresh from his remarkable performance against England, maintained his aggressive approach, ensuring that de Kock could comfortably reach his third century of the tournament. As de Kock accelerated his assault after reaching his century, Bangladesh’s bowlers were left scrambling.
Despite signs of fatigue due to the intense heat and humidity, de Kock continued his onslaught, and Bangladesh’s bowlers struggled to contain the run flow. The conditions at Wankhede favored boundary-hitting, making it challenging for Bangladesh’s bowlers to maintain consistent accuracy, especially in the latter stages of the innings.
When de Kock eventually departed, David Miller assumed the role of finishing the innings with a blistering 14-ball 34, while Klaasen maintained his aggressive batting style. Klaasen may have narrowly missed a second consecutive century, but his innings was profoundly destructive and solidified his reputation as one of the most formidable middle-order batsmen in the world.
In the end, South Africa posted a formidable total of 382/5 in their allotted 50 overs, with Quinton de Kock scoring 174, Heinrich Klaasen contributing 90, and Aiden Markram adding 60 to the scoreboard. Hasan Mahmud was the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh, with figures of 2-67.
South Africa’s commanding performance sets the stage for an exciting World Cup campaign as they look to continue their winning streak.
