Quinton de Kock's marathon innings trounce Australia in Centurion

South Africa 295-4 (de Kock 178) beat
Australia 294-9 (Bailey 74) by six wickets
First One-Day International in Centurion
Scorecard

Quinton de Kock scored a marvelous 178 as South Africa chased down 295 against Australia with six wickets in hand in the first One-Day International in Centurion to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

In the process, de Kock also surpassed Herschelle Gibbs' 175 to become the second highest individual scorer for South Africa in the 50-over format behind Gary Kirsten.

David Warner (40) scored three boundaries and a six in the first five overs to take Australia to 35 for naught. He also brought the 50-run opening stand with Aaron Finch (33) off 48 deliveries but Wayne Parnell (1-56) had Warner caught at cover to provide South Africa with the initial breakthrough.

Finch upped the ante by smashing Andile Phehlukwayo (4-44) for a six and a couple of boundaries in the 11th over, but the lanky fast bowler got his revenge removing the Australian opener in his next over.

In the very same over, Phehlukwayo also got rid of Australian captain Steven Smith (8) to restrict Australia to 91 for three.

Mitchell Marsh (31) launched a counter-attack on the South African attack plundering five boundaries and a six before he became Phehlukwayo's third victim. With Travis Head (18) and Matthew Wade (5) too falling in quick succession, George Bailey (74) stood firm at one end and along with support from John Hastings (51) helped Australia to 294 for nine in the 50 overs.

In the chase, de Kock (178) and Rilee Rossouw (63) smashed 15 boundaries and a six combined to take the total to 87 for naught in the first 10 overs.

De Kock's fifty came in 38 deliveries while Rossouw brought his own half-century in 36 deliveries as the pair gave a tremendous start to the home side.

In his very first delivery, Adam Zampa (1-44), trapped Rossouw LBW ending the 145 run opening stand. De Kock brought his 11th century in the ODIs with a six and smashed 19 more runs in the next eight deliveries to bring down the required run rate under four.

The South African wicket-keeper batsman showed no respite for Australian bowlers as he plundered Marsh (0-66) for 15 more runs in the 28th over to bring his highest individual score in the ODIs.

Zampa continued to be on receiving end from de Kock as the swashbuckling left-hander scored three consecutive sixes in the 30th over by the end of which South Africa were 254 for one.

Even though, Scott Boland (3-67) managed to dismiss de Kock, Faf du Plessis (26) and JP Duminy (9), South Africa reached the target in just 36.2 overs with six wickets in hand.

For his match-winning century, de Kock was awarded the man of the match.

© Cricket World 2016