De Kock powers Lions to victory
by Jason Pearce 23 November 2012, 22:41
Quinton de Kock thrashed his maiden one day century to power the bizhub Hghveld Lions to a seven-wicket victory over the Nashua Titans in their Momentum One Day-Cup match at Bidvest Wanderers in Johannesburg on Friday.
Full Scorecard – Lions v Titans
In an audacious display of stroke-making, the Lions youngster hammered no less than four sixes and 12 fours in an 83-ball blitz that yielded 115 runs to lead the home side to a bonus-point win over their Highveld neighbours.
After winning the toss and batting first, the Titans slumped to 55 for four by the end of the 15th over, as Lions opening bowler Chris Morris bowled with genuine pace to remove both Henry Davids for two and Heino Kuhn for four in his first two overs.
New-ball partner Hardus Viljoen bowled Mangaliso Mosehle for ten and when Pumelela Matshikwe had Titans skipper Martin van Jaarsveld caught behind for 15 in the 15th over, the visitors were teetering at 50 for four.
An 89-run partnership off 21.2 overs between Albie Morkel and Ferhaan Behardien rescued the innings, with Morkel’s fighting effort of 54 off 71 balls including seven fours and a six coming to an unfortunate end when he was run out.
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Behardien rallied the middle and lower order in compiling a superb 102 off 116 balls with 10 fours and two sixes, progressing to his maiden one-day century to boost the Titans to 255, with the impressive Morris finishing with four wickets for just 33 runs off his nine overs.
The Lions got off to a blistering start in their pursuit of 256 for victory, with openers Gulam Bodi and skipper Stephen Cook racking up a 50-partnership in just seven overs. The 10-over Powerplay yielded 76 runs as the Titans attack lacked the necessary penetration and intent to worry the formidable Lions opening batsmen.
The partnership was ended when Paul Harris was introduced in the 11th over and struck with his second ball, trapping Cook LBW for 22 off 25 balls with three boundaries.
Bodi moved to his 50 in the 17th over, but departed in the very next over after an attempted pull shot off Rowan Richards resulted in him feathering an edge to keeper Heino Kuhn for a well played 54 off 59 balls with nine fours.
Neil McKenzie was given a major lifeline in the 20th over with his score on two when Harris spilled a firmly struck, but very catchable return drive.
McKenzie didn’t need a second invitation and together with young tyro De Kock proceeded to dominate the bowling in an eye-catching display of stroke-making,
De Kock was impressive in his intent, as he looked to move from talented youngster to Lions match-winner with a series of exquisite shots all around the wicket. He moved to his 50 in the 27th over with a beautiful on-drive for four off Cornelius de Villers, and followed that up with two more boundaries in the over.
McKenzie was not to be outdone, and found the rope with a series of vintage strokes on both sides of the wicket, while De Kock, never afraid of going the aerial route, moved onto 80 with a lofted six and a further three runs off Paul Harris in the 31st over.
De Kock thrashed Henry Davids over long-on for his fourth six to race to his maiden one-day century off just 72 balls as the Lions closed in on a bonus-point win, and was eventually dismissed for 115 off 83 balls with the win, and the bonus point, secured for the Lions.
NASHUA TITANS: Henry Davids, Heino Kuhn, Mangaliso Mosehle (wk), Martin van Jaarsveld (capt), Farhaan Behardien, David Wiese, Albie Morkel, Roelof van der Merwe, CJ de Villiers, Paul Harris, Ethy Mbhalati
BIZHUB HIGHVELD LIONS: Stephen Cook (captain), Grant Mokoena, Quinton de Kock, Neil McKenzie, Temba Bavuma, Zander de Bruyn, Jean Symes, Chris Morris, Aaron Phangiso, Hardus Viljoen, Ethan O'Reilly
