De Kock's ton, bowlers' accuracy guides Proteas to a 134-run victory over five-time champions
LUCKNOW: The Kangaroos continue to hop on a hot tin roof. After a six-wicket loss against India in their inaugural match of the World Cup in Chennai, the five-time champions lost again on Thursday, this time against South Africa at Lucknow's Ekana Stadium by 134 runs.
With their second humongous victory, the Proteas have jumped to the top of the table; Aussies, with an equal number of defeats, are ninth - just above minnows Afghanistan. This is the first time after 1992 that Australia have lost their first two matches in the World Cup. The fact that Australian fielders dropped five catches hardly helped their cause.
After posting a handsome 311/7, thanks to the second successive century by Quinton de Kock (109) in this World Cup on a pitch that used to be a batters' nightmare but behaved well on Thursday. Then, South African bowlers ran riot and at one point of time Australia were reeling at 70 for 6. Captain Pat Cummins (22) and fellow pacer Mitchell Starc (27) tried to give a semblance of respectability to the team's score through a late resistance, but that was too little, too late. Their innings could last for just 40.5 overs with Kagiso Rabada emerging as the most successful bowler (3-38).
After posting the highest-ever total in the World Cup in their first game against Sri Lanka in New Delhi a few days ago, South Africa continued their excellent form when they notched up the highest total in an ODI at the Ekana stadium. Besides de Kock, Aiden Markram (56) also played a useful hand. Markram, who was dropped on one by Cummins off his own bowling, clobbered seven fours and a six.
The back-to-back maximums off Josh Hazlewood over fine leg and the majestic six over midwicket for his hundred were the highlights of de Kock's innings. The wicketkeeper-batter eventually fell to a freak dismissal as the ball deflected from the back of his willow into his chest and onto the stumps. Glenn Maxwell (2/34) was the most successful bowler for Australia while others managed to get some wickets towards the end of the innings.
Put in to bat by Australia, the Proteas set Australia a challenging task. In the face of intense pressure from a big target, the Australian top order floundered. From there on, all they could do was to extend the fight as long as possible. In hindsight, Australian captain Pat Cummins made the mistake of asking South Africa to bat first on a pitch that turned out quite good for batters.
