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De Kock scorching 115, Rickelton unbeaten 77, powers South Africa to 2-0 series win following runsfest at Centurion
2026 West Indies tour of South Africa T20I 3-Match Series Game 2
Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton put on 162 in just 72 balls. (Gallo Images/Getty Images)
– Hetmyer 75 in losing effort
By Clifton Ross
Kaieteur Sports – South Africa opener Quinton de Kock dazzled the Centurion crowd yesterday with a mind-boggling hundred which was supported by an unbeaten half-century from wicket-keeper Ryan Rickelton, as the home team bagged the series 2-0 leaving the West Indies in a deeper mess with the T20 World Cup just days away.
In a match where over 400 runs were scored in total, for the 5th time at Centurion 200 runs were successfully chased at the venue, as the home team swept aside the Windies thus signalling to the rest of the world their intentions with T20 Cup days away.
The 33 year-old De Kock seemingly picked up from where he left off during the SA20, as he showed his World Cup intentions early by blitzing a 49-ball 115, his second and best T20I ton.
The former skipper clobbered 6 4’s and 10 huge 6’s as he single handedly toyed with the 200-run target, backed by another classy performance from the left-handed Rickelton, who cracked 77 not out off 36 deliveries (9×4 3×6).
The pyrotechnics piloted the Proteas to their second successive 150-plus run target of the series, gunning down their target of 221 with almost two overs remaining; racking up 225-3 to bag the series with a game to go.
Shimron Hetmyer had a good outing at No. 3. (AFP/Getty Images)
Sherfane Rutherford smashed a 21-ball half-century. (AFP/Getty Images)
The pair of left-handers added a 2nd wicket mammoth 162-run partnership off 72 balls, which broke the back of West Indies’ huge 221-4 off their 20 overs.
Guyanese Shimron Hetmyer finally carried his bat after flirting with fifty on two occasions, nailing 75 off 42 with 8 fours and 3 sixes.
Hetmyer and opener Brandon King (49), who fell short of fifty by a run but hit five fours and three sixes, shared a 126-run second wicket stand; the team’s best of the series.
After failing in his return to maroon colors, lefty power-hitter Sherfane Rutheford reminded the South Africans of his capabilities after his destruction in the SA20.
The Guyanese belted 4 sixes and 5 fours in his way to 57 off just 24, posting a crucial unbroken 6th wicket stand of 76 alongside Hetmyer, which helped to pilot the Caribbean side to a hefty 200-plus run score.
Seasoned left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj was sublime, picking up 2-22 amidst the carnage with a wicket each for fast-bowlers Kagiso Rabada (1-35) and Marco Jansen (1-39).
Staring at a massive target, de Kock made light work of the West Indies bowling, as he raced to his half-century off 21 balls, as South Africa reached their team 100 in the 9th over.
Rickelton provided the necessary attention needed to help de Kock laser in on his mission to take his team as close to the target as possible.
The pair cut loose after the halfway stage, pouncing on anything good or bad, raising their 150-run partnership alongside South Africa’s 200 in the 16th over; further exposing the many flaws within the West Indies bowling attack.
After destroying the Windies bowling attack, de Kock was out caught leaving Rickelton to further press his case for the number 3 spot as he sealed the game with a boundary.
South Africa completed their third highest T20I international chase at Centurion, while the West Indies bowlers, for the second successive game failed to exhibit creativity or lack of experiment thereof; resulting in 2-41 from left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein and a wicket for 34 runs from seamer Matthew Forde.
West Indies earlier, had a much better batting outing thanks to King, Hetmyer and Rutherford who ensured the run-rate was healthy throughout the innings.
Only Captain Shai Hope (4) and Rovman Powell (2) failed to reach double-figures, with all-rounder Romario Shepherd also chipping in with an unbeaten 17.
But thanks to the two partnerships involving Hetmyer, who got to his first fifty of the series off 29 balls; backed by some immaculate striking from Rutheford in the end helped take the Windies to a big total.
Aiden Markram and his men having wrapped up the series, could look to do additional damage as the West Indies face a possible whitewash with the 3rd and final match set for Saturday in Johannesburg.
Scores: South Africa 225 for 3 (De Kock 115, Rickleton 77*, Hosein 2-41) beat West Indies 221 for 4 (Hetmyer 75, Rutherford 57*, King 49, Maharaj 2-22) by seven wickets.
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