Quinton de Kock's record-breaking 115 at T20 World Cup 2024 final venue leads Barbados Royals to dominating 32-run win amidst uncertain T20I future

South Africa’s wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock starred with 115-run knock as Barbados Royals registered a comprehensive 32-run win over Shai Hope’s Guyana Amazon Warriors at Kensington Oval, Barbados. De Kock recorded the highest score by a Barbados Royals batter in Caribbean Premier League (CPL) history amidst uncertainty over his T20I future. Royals ended Warriors’ unbeaten run to claim the top spot on CPL 2024 points table. 
 

Before De Kock, the highest individual score by a Barbados player in CPL was 110. Dwayne Smith scored 110 when Barbados Royals were called Barbados Tridents. Since the renaming, Rahkeem Cornwall is the only batter to hit a century for them. De Kock's 115 is also the sixth-highest individual score in CPL history.
 

De Kock’s century helps Royals post big total

Earlier, Hope won the toss and opted to bowl first. Kadeem Alleyne wreaked havoc as hit Dwaine Pretorius and Moeen Ali for a six and a four each. But Pretorius removed him in the third over. De Kock hit his first boundary in the fifth over. After powerplay overs, Royals were 49/1. De Kock was hit on the body by Shamar Joseph in the seventh over after hitting two fours and a six. The southpaw recovered and reached his fifty in 10th over from 34 balls. Raymon Reifer was introduced into the attack and he dismissed Alick Athanaze who scored 16 runs from 19 balls.

De Kock hit Reifer for two sixes in the next over. Rovman Powell failed to get going and was dismissed by Pretorius in the 15th over. In the next over, David Miller got out to Keemo Paul. De Kock reached his century from 60 balls in the 17th over. Jason Holder got an early reprive as his catch was dropped by Shimron Hetmyer. He made them pay for it with three consecutive sixes and a four off Paul in penultimate over. De Kock hit two sixes before losing his wicket to Reifer in the final over. The southpaw's 115 off 68 balls was laced with eight fours and nine sixes. Rivaldo Clarke's first-ball six took Royals score to 205/6. He lost his wicket on the final delivery of the innings.

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Maharaj’s three-fer to stop Warriors

Azam Khan was promoted up the order but he fell for a single-digit score to Holder. Hope's catch was dropped in the sixth over but Keshav Maharaj got Tim Robinson stumped for a run-a-ball 19. Shimron Hetmyer hit two consecutive sixes to close off powerplay overs. After the rain break, Maharaj ended Hetmyer's cameo. He scored 28 runs from 10 balls. Moeen Ali and Hope kept up with the run rate as they took risks in middle overs. The partnership was broken by Holder. Hope got out caught and bowled. He scored 40 runs from 34 balls. In the next over, Maharaj returned and dismissed Ali. The former England batter scored 33 runs from 19 balls. Paul and Reifer remained unbeaten for 30 and 16 respectively but could not take their team close to the target. Warriors posted 173/5 and lost the match by 32 runs.

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De Kock’s uncertain T20I future

De Kock hasn’t played for South Africa since the T20 World Cup 2024 final loss against India. He is not in the side for Afghanistan and Ireland T20Is. Head coach Rob Walter hopes to see him again in the South Africa colours.
 

"I've had no conversations with him. It wasn't the right time after the final to have that conversation," Walter said. "So let me leave it at saying your guess is as good as mine."
 

"Quinny's an enigma. He hasn't officially called time. So we have that little glimmer of hope that sits in the background. Quinny has very high standards for himself and has dreamed about a World Cup win for a very long time. Has had a number of knocks along the way, not least this last final, You would have seen that he was very emotional with it. Whether we see him again, time will tell."
 

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