Cricket World Cup: Quinton de Kock hits another century as South Africa hammer Bangladesh
- Planet Sport writer
- 24 October 2023
Quinton de Kock went to the top of the run-scoring charts with his third century of the 2023 Cricket World Cup as he helped South Africa to a 149-run victory over Bangladesh in Mumbai.
De Kock struck a masterful 174 off 140 balls while Heinrich Klaasen followed up his hundred against England with a brutal knock of 90 from 49 deliveries as the Proteas amassed a total of 382-5.
The Bangladesh top-order then collapsed to 81-6 before a hundred from Mahudullah (111 off 111 balls) saw the Tigers bowled out for 233 in the 47th over.
The Proteas, who were again without regular captain Temba Bavuma due to illness, batted first after stand-in skipper Aiden Markram had won the toss.
The found themselves struggling early at 36-2 before De Kock and Markram (60) struck up a 131-run partnership to steady the ship and put them on course for another big score, following their 399-7 against England.
De Kock's hundred came up in 101 balls but that was just the start as he hammer a further 74 from 39 as followed up previous centuries in this year's tournament against Sri Lanka and Australia.
It proved a target far beyond Bangladesh, who despite heroics from Mahmudullah saw their top order fall flat as Tanzid Hassan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das fell with just 58 on the board.
Mahmudullah to ensure his team avoided the spectre of a possible record World Cup defeat, but their future in the tournament looks likely to soon be over after losing for the fourth time in five games.
The Proteas moved up to second in the standings, behind host nation India, after claiming their fourth victory in five outings.
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