South African Wicketkeeper Scores First ODI Century in Two Years After Coming Out of Retirement

Quinton de Kock, South Africa’s wicketkeeper-batter, marked a remarkable return with his first One Day International (ODI) century in two years. His performance came during a match against Pakistan, where he scored an impressive 123 runs, helping his team chase down a target of 270 runs.

Outstanding Performance Against Pakistan

The match showcased South Africa’s dominant batting, especially with de Kock’s aggressive approach. Key highlights include:

• South Africa restricted Pakistan to 269 runs for 9 wickets.
• Nandre Burger’s exceptional bowling, taking four wickets.
• An 81-run opening partnership between de Kock and Lhuan-dre Pretorius.

After Pretorius was dismissed for 46, de Kock took charge. He reached his half-century with a spectacular six off Faheem Ashraf, marking his second fifty in as many games. This century came after de Kock returned to ODI cricket following a brief retirement.

Century Milestone

During the match, de Kock faced a tense moment when he was on 98 runs but successfully navigated an lbw review. He completed his century with grace, becoming the 22nd player in ODIs to achieve this feat, which was particularly special as it was his first since November 2023.

• In total, he faced 96 balls to reach 123 runs.
• South Africa finished the chase with two wickets in hand.

Return from Retirement

De Kock announced his return to international cricket in September 2023 after temporarily stepping back from ODIs post the World Cup. While he had not officially retired from T20Is, he had not played since the 2024 T20 World Cup. His decision to come back was welcomed by South Africa’s head coach Shukri Conrad, who noted de Kock’s ambition to represent the national team again.

Upcoming Challenges and Statistics

De Kock’s recent ODI performances show a promising resurgence in form after a challenging start to his return. Here are his statistics:

This century reinforces de Kock’s value to the Proteas as they look to build momentum in their matches ahead. As he continues to find form, fans eagerly anticipate his contributions to the team.