Ever had that sinking feeling when you realize you’ve forgotten your laptop for a big presentation? Now imagine being an international cricket star and realizing you’ve left your bats a two-hour flight away—just 30 minutes before the team bus departs. That is exactly the “blank” moment South African opener Quinton de Kock faced ahead of the second T20I against the West Indies at SuperSport Park.
In what he described as a moment of feeling “a bit stupid,” de Kock realized his gear was still sitting on the coast while he was up on the Highveld. With no time for a delivery, he did what any senior player would do: he went “shopping” in the kit bags of his younger teammates. After scouting the gear of Ryan Rickelton and Dewald Brevis, he settled on one of Brevis’ bats.
The “Left-Handed” Bat Mystery and a Record-Breaking Knock
The swap led to a hilarious exchange with the young sensation known as “Baby AB.” When de Kock commandeered the bat, Brevis jokingly assured him it was a “good left-handed bat.” Given that cricket bats aren’t built for hand preference and Brevis himself is a right-hander, de Kock couldn’t help but laugh at the audacity of the new generation. “Youngsters these days!” he joked, though the “wrong” bat clearly didn’t hinder his performance.
Using Brevis’ equipment, de Kock went on a rampage, smashing six fours and ten sixes. He notched his second T20I century, finishing with a career-best 115. His dominance helped anchor a massive 162-run partnership with Rickelton, making light work of the West Indies’ 221-run total. Despite the fireworks, de Kock was surprisingly unsentimental about the borrowed wood. He noted that the weight felt “out of place” and suited for youngsters who “swing hard,” confirming he’d be handing it back to Brevis the second his own gear arrived.
Confidence at SuperSport Park and the Art of the Chase
South Africa’s successful chase wasn’t just a fluke of individual brilliance; it was backed by a deep-rooted confidence in the Centurion pitch. De Kock pointed out that the team has a history of chasing massive totals at this ground—including their world-record 259-run chase against the same opponents. For de Kock, the flat, “true” nature of the wicket meant they didn’t have to be overly inventive; they just had to trust the process and play their shots.
Interestingly, the veteran batter admitted that while the century was great for the fans, it wasn’t his most satisfying knock. A purist at heart, de Kock revealed he finds more joy in “street smart” innings on difficult wickets where every run is a battle of wits. However, for the crowd at SuperSport Park, watching him dismantle a bowling attack with a “borrowed, left-handed” bat was more than enough satisfaction for one night.
