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Quinton de Kock came back to haunt the West Indies with an astonishing century as South Africa claimed their first win under head coach Shukri Conrad, pulling off an audacious run chase at SuperSport Park, Centurion.
Playing his first T20I at home in three years and his first on home soil since reversing his retirement, De Kock scored his second century in this format, his second in Centurion, and his second against the West Indies.
The explosive left-handed opener reached his hundred off 43 balls, and finished on 115 off 49 balls, with 10 sixes and six fours. During his whirlwind knock, De Kock faced just eight dot balls as South Africa mounted a stunning run chase.
The home side chased down a mammoth 222-run target with ease in just 17.3 overs and seven wickets to spare to clinch the series 2-0 with one game to go.
De Kock reached the three-figure mark in 43 balls, the same number as when he scored a hundred against the West Indies in Pretoria in 2023 in South Africa's chase of 259.
The Proteas opener showed his full range against a hapless West Indies bowling attack and was dismissed in the 15th over when the home side was just 33 runs away from the win. His sensational knock ended when he skied a catch off spinner Akeal Hosein while attempting for his third six in a row.
The hosts' chase was built on a remarkable 162-run partnership off 71 balls between De Kock and fellow left-hander Ryan Rickelton (77 runs from 36 balls).
Earlier, West Indies, after being put into bat, posted a strong total of 221 for 4 in 20 overs, courtesy of a superb second-wicket partnership of 126 between Shimron Hetmyer (75 from 42) and Brandon King (49 from 30). Sherfane Rutherford provided a much-needed late flourish with a 24-ball 57 as West Indies scored 76 off thelast five overs.
However, the visitors scored just 27 runs for the loss of three wickets in the five overs between the 12th and the 16th, and in the end, it was this phase that cost West Indies the match and the series. Spinner Keshav Maharaj (4/22 in 4 overs) was key to halting West Indies' momentum.
The third and final T20I will be played on January 31 in Johannesburg.
