Young gun De Kock finally hitting the sweet spot

28 October 2014 - 02:01 By Telford Vice
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
COMEBACK KID: Quinton de Kock showed renewed confidence in his batting skills, scoring an unbeaten 80, including 11 fours, off 94 balls in yesterday's ODI against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton
COMEBACK KID: Quinton de Kock showed renewed confidence in his batting skills, scoring an unbeaten 80, including 11 fours, off 94 balls in yesterday's ODI against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton
Image: MICHAEL BRADLEY/AFP

Earth to Australia: Quinton de Kock is coming, ready or not. De Kock yesterday batted his way out of the wet paper bag in which his recent form has been in the third one-day international against New Zealand in Hamilton.

Rain ended the match after 30.4 overs and, with it, a series the Proteas had won 2-0 on Friday. But not before De Kock scored 80 not out in South Africa's total of 157/3.

De Kock's display dismissed disappointment over his string of sorry scores in his past five ODIs - 26, nine, seven, two and one.

De Kock hit 11 fours from the 94 balls he faced. But he also showed maturity and took on the responsibility of keeping South Africa going forward after they had been reduced to 70/3.

That caught the eye of AB de Villiers, who shared an unbroken stand of 87 with the left-hander.

Said De Villiers: "His last few games he's probably not scored as many runs as he wanted to. But that tells a story about where he's at with his cricket. To still keep his head up high and still try to work hard at his game, and come through with a decent knock, was really important.

"In one of his first few games I realised he had that in him. I also thought he was a flashy player, going hard at the ball all the time. But then I realised he actually has the other side of the game as well.

"For a 21-year-old to have that in his game plan is amazing. I certainly didn't have it at his age."

High praise indeed, which means the Australians - the Proteas' opponents in three T20s and five ODIs starting next week Wednesday - will take notice.

How did De Villiers rate his team's readiness for what will be the most significant stage of their preparation for next year's World Cup?

"We're nowhere near where we want to be. Actually, we're not far off. But there are lots of areas we can work on.

"It's a matter of being more ruthless in certain areas. In the second game, we stumbled with the bat. With the ball, in the first game, we should have finished it off earlier."

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now