Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra feels South Africa activate the monster mode when they bat first in the ongoing World Cup 2023. The Proteas continued their rich batting show, posting a gigantic knock of 382 runs on the board against Bangladesh at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Tuesday.
Quinton de Kock scored his third World Cup 2023 century as he smashed 174 runs off just 140 balls, hitting 15 fours and seven sixes. Furthermore, stand-in captain Aiden Markram scored 60 runs whereas Heinrich Klaasen scored a blistering knock of 90 runs off just 49 balls.
Earlier in the tournament, South Africa posted 428 runs against Sri Lanka in Delhi, 311 runs against Australia at Lucknow and 399 runs against defending champions England at Mumbai. Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen have been in magnificent form.
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “This is a team. They activate the monster mode when they bat first. They got stuck once. That was in the run chase against the Netherlands but this team is different while batting first.”
In fact, the Tigers picked up two early wickets of Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen in the Powerplay overs but de Kock took them apart along with Aiden Markram.
“Bangladesh made a good start, they picked two wickets in the powerplay. It seemed like they would change the game but how will they do that because Quinton de Kock has decided and come that it is his last World Cup and every time it should be said – ‘Abhi na jao chhod kar ki dil abhi bhara nahin’ (Please don’t leave now, it seems to early).”
The renowned commentator hailed Quinton de Kock’s blistering knock against Bangladesh. De Kock has scored 407 runs in five matches at an impressive average of 81.40 and a strike rate of 114.97 in the ongoing World Cup 2023 and he is currently the leading run-getter of the tournament.
“He is doing exactly that. He has scored three centuries and has already said that his ODI cricket is over after this. Now you won’t ask when will you go and instead ask why are you going. This is the kind of tournament he is having.”
South Africa will next take on Pakistan at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Friday.
