Following a remarkable century that led to South Africa’s victory, opening batsman Quinton de Kock stressed the importance of a meticulous evaluation of the conditions and the effective execution of their game plan on the challenging Lucknow wicket.
De Kock’s exceptional form in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 persisted as he recorded another century against Australia at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on the 12th of October.
The Proteas defended their total of 311 resolutely, with Kagiso Rabada spearheading the bowling attack, ultimately dismissing Australia for a mere 177 runs.
South Africa maintained their undefeated streak in the tournament, establishing themselves as a formidable and a force to be reckoned with.
De Kock emphasized that South Africa’s first-innings score of 311 was more than competitive, particularly on the Lucknow wicket. Drawing from his prior experience with the Lucknow Super Giants IPL team, he elaborated on the challenges of batting second, noting that the wicket’s character tends to transform as the match unfolds.
“Scoring 311 was beyond what’s expected. Having played here for the Lucknow IPL team, I can attest that batting second can be a real test. The wicket undergoes alterations. The conditions were sweaty and humid, our bowlers were at their prime, and they secured early breakthroughs,” added de Kock, the centurion and the Hero of the match.
While acknowledging the team’s strong commencement in the tournament, de Kock underscored the World Cup’s extended and fiercely competitive nature. He concluded by emphasizing their intention to approach the tournament one game at a time. They next take on the Netherlands cricket team in their next match on the 17th of October.
