Quinton De Kock smashed another century as South Africa inflicted more World Cup woe on Australia with a convincing 134-run victory in Lucknow.
De Kock backed up his ton against Sri Lanka on Saturday with a brilliant 109 while Aiden Markram – who scored the fastest century in World Cup history at the weekend – contributed 56 as the Proteas made 311 for seven from their 50 overs.
Australia’s bid to bounce back from their six-wicket defeat to tournament hosts India never got started as they were bundled out for 177 inside 41 overs.
Kagiso Rabada led the South Africa attack with three for 33.
All-round excellence helps South Africa continue their victorious run in the #CWC23 #AUSvSA : https://t.co/Z70038nwZ3 pic.twitter.com/ICgBe51Lj9
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) October 12, 2023
De Kock is set to retire from 50-over cricket at the end of the tournament but he seems determined to bow out on a high.
He and Temba Bavuma put on 108 for the opening wicket with Australia’s front line bowlers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood making little impact.
Glenn Maxwell finally got Bavuma for 35 with fellow spinner Adam Zampa accounting for Rassie van der Dussen (26) but De Kock and Markram pushed the score to the brink of 200 before the former was unfortunate to play on to Maxwell.
Heinrich Klaasen (29) and Marco Jansen (26) made useful contributions to help move the total beyond 300 with Maxwell the pick of the Australia bowlers with two for 34.
As impressive as South Africa were with the bat, their efforts with the ball were arguably even better.
Lungi Ngidi delivered a fine opening spell that allowed no freedom for Australia’s openers to score and, with the scoreboard pressure mounting, mistakes started to come.
Mitch Marsh (seven) got a leading edge to a Jansen delivery and picked out Bavuma, David Warner (13) chipped Ngidi to Van der Dussen and Steve Smith (19) was given lbw to Rabada, much to his amazement.
Josh Inglis, preferred to Alex Carey behind the stumps, Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis made little impact to leave Australia 70 for six.
Starc and Marnus Labuschagne set about a big rebuilding job which they did so in painstaking fashion – their partnership of 69 taking 16.1 overs. Stoic as it was, it never seriously threatened the Proteas’ dominance and when Starc went for 27 and Labuschagne for 46 in the next over, the game was all but up.
Tabraiz Shamsi polished off the tail to leave Australia needing victory in their next outing against Sri Lanka.
