The captain showed little respect to the bowlers, who struggled to contain both batsmen
South Africa 'A' player Quinton de Kock celebrating his century during third unofficial match of "India A Team Triangular Series" against India 'A' at MAC Stadium in Chennai on Sunday. (Photo: AP)
Wayanad: Quinton de Kock continued his excellent form for South Africa ‘A’ as he struck a swashbuckling century to help the visitors post a massive 542 on Day Two of the unofficial Test against India ‘A’ at Krishnagiri Stadium here on Wednesday.
In reply, the hosts were in tatters, losing three wickets in reaching 122 at stumps. The South African international, who had a dip in the form during the Bangladesh tour a month ago, came one step closer to a national team call up as he dominated the hosts in a knock of 113 off 102 balls. He along with skipper Dane Vilas (75) commanded the proceeding in the post lunch session.
The wicketkeeper-batsman was in aggressive mode in contrast to classy Day One centurion Omphile Ramela after surviving a strong lbw appeal off the first ball he faced. de Kock started off with a marvelous straight drive off Ishwar Pandey and hit two sixes before completing his fifty from just 32 balls. His 78-run partnership with Dane Piedt (16) demolished India A’s hopes of a comeback in the match.
“I was playing my natural game. The batting conditions were superb and I had to only play confidently,” said de Kock later. Though he slowed down after his half century, he continued to attack the Indian spinners. Vilas, who is also a wicketkeeper and competing with de Kock for a place in the South Africa side visiting India in two months, joined the party with all out attack against the hosts.
The captain showed little respect to the bowlers, who struggled to contain both batsmen. Immediately after de Kock’s century, the skipper completed his fifty, hitting Axar Patel over long on.
However the 107-run partnership came to an end when de Kock tried to hit over the mid-wicket and was caught by Pandey off Shreyas Iyer’s bowling. Already on 507, the South Africans lost Vilas to Yadav and the tail-enders’ carried the visitors on a healthy 542. Though India ‘A’ started their innings confidently, South Africa’s bowlers were able to find more turn as the match progressed.
Brief scores
South Africa ‘A’ 542 (de Kock 113, Ramela 112, Axar 4/115) vs India ‘A’ 122/3 (Iyer 49, Rayudu 11*)
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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