Quinton de Kock's comeback 123 not out propels Proteas to series leveller in Faisalabad

On a steamy evening in Kolkata, a despairing Quinton de Kock walked off one of cricket’s great coliseums of the world.

Eden Gardens was now added to Edgbaston and St Lucia on the list of Proteas World Cup semi-final heartbreaks at the hands of Australia. And De Kock would not get another chance to avenge the defeat as he made the decision to retire from ODI cricket prior to the tournament. 

It was accompanied by a deep sense of despair that De Kock was leaving too early - much similar to the hollow feeling when he had abruptly ended his Test career two years earlier. His form, which had yielded his most productive World Cup return, made it even harder to bear.

Much water has flown under the bridge since, but on Thursday evening in Faisalabad, De Kock’s redemption was complete. His 123 not out - 22nd century of his ODI career - helped not only Proteas level the series, but also rubber-stamped his comeback to the international game. 

There were signs in the series opener two days ago that he lost none of his brilliance and authority at the crease with a half-century. On Thursday, he was more cautious at the start, handing the reins to his teenage partner Lhuan-dre Pretorius. 

There’s no doubt that De Kock has a quiet chuckle to himself watching Pretorius throw his hands at anything over-pitched, and flick the ball off his pads through the leg-side, for it's a carbon copy of how similarly at that age had no respect for bowlers regardless of their international reputations. 

The pair laid the foundation of the run-chase with an 81-run opening stand before Pretorius edged Mohammed Wasim Jnr behind for 46 off 40 balls (7x4, 1x6). 

De Kock’s presence seems to be a galvanising factor to the young Proteas left-handers with Tony de Zorzi entering the fray, and intent to outscore his more senior partner. De Zorzi, who would surely be a candidate for Proteas Player of the Tour if such an award existed, played with freedom, particularly through the leg-side where he utilised his trademark sweep to good effect.

All the while De Kock kept accumulating at the other end, reaching his fifty off 48 balls. 

The left-hand duo seemed set to take the Proteas home with De Zorzi also racing to his half-century with three boundaries off a Mohammed Wasim Jnr over. 

De Kock was not to be outshined though as he smeared the ball through the leg-side with trademark ease and despite a desperate LBW review against the veteran on 98, he comfortably reached his milestone. 

There was no exuberant celebration. None of the Proteas' badge clenching to signal his return. He merely took off his helmet, raised his arms in appreciation of the crowd and his dressingroom’s applause, as if to indicate normal service had resumed. 

De Zorzi, unfortunately, was not able to follow De Kock’s lead as he fell for 76 to bring a close to the 153-run partnership, but this was merely a small bump on the road to the Proteas’ comfortable eight-wicket victory after the bowlers had earlier restricted Pakistan to a reachable target. 

Left-arm seamer Nandre Burger and leg-spinner Nqabayomzi Peter, who both came into the starting XI after missing the first game, bagged career-best figures of 4/46 and 3/55 respectively. 

Burger’s new-ball spell was particularly impressive, picking up the wickets of Fakar Zaman, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, within the first five overs.

Pakistan rallied through half-centuries from Saim Ayub, Salman Agha and Mohammad Nawaz, but it was never going to be enough on a night when De Kock was in such a rampant mood. 

Second ODI, Faisalabad

Pakistan: 269/9 (Agha 69, Nawaz 59, Ayub 53, Burger 4/46, Peter 3/55, Bosch 2/58)

South Africa: 270/2 (De Kock 123*, De Zorzi 76, Pretorius 46)

South Africa won by eight wickets, series level at 1-1