South Africa’s de Kock emerges from the ‘dark spaces’

SYDNEY: Quinton de Kock’s return to form in South Africa’s World Cup quarter-final rout of Sri Lanka was one of the most pleasing aspects of a convincing victory for the Proteas, not least for the talented 22-year-old batsman himself.
No one doubts the lefthanded opener’s talent but producing your best under pressure at the World Cup is an entirely different matter, as the players who have taken part in South Africa’s previous campaigns will attest.
De Kock opened his World Cup with back-to-back innings of seven against Zimbabwe and India and the runs failed to come against West Indies, Ireland, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates either.
Going into the quarter-final at the Sydney Cricket Ground, he had accumulated just 53 from six innings and both coach Russell Domingo and skipper AB de Villiers were subject to questions over the value of retaining him.
On Wednesday, de Kock repaid their faith with a couple of excellent catches behind the stumps and then an unbeaten 78 off 57 balls, punching the ball through gaps in the field with alacrity and sealing the victory with his 12th four.
“It looked like I was batting easy but, trust me, it was nothing like easy,” he said after the nine-wicket victory.
“I’m just glad I finally contributed to the team and to the World Cup. Glad to be in the semis now, hopefully we can get through that and bring the Cup home.”