NORTH SOUND: Quinton de Kock’s blistering 74 and Aiden Markram’s anchoring knock powered South Africa to 194/4 against the United States of America (USA) in the 41st match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 here on Wednesday.

Sent into bat first, South Africa registered a formidable total on the board, courtesy of a marathon second-wicket partnership between de Kock and Markram.

The Proteas, however, got off to a contrasting start to their innings as their opener Reeza Hendricks perished in the third over with just 16 runs on the board. He made a run-a-ball 11 with the help of a six.

The early blow did not trouble South Africa much as Quinton de Kock smashed 28 runs off Jasdeep Singh in the fourth over.

The eventful over gave South Africa an upper hand and de Kock and Markram then took calculated risks to keep the momentum in their favour.

The duo had added 110 runs for the second wicket before Harmeet Singh provided a much-needed breakthrough to the USA by dismissing de Kock in the 13th over.

The left-handed batter remained the top-scorer for South Africa with a swashbuckling 74 off just 40 deliveries, peppered with seven fours and five sixes.

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Harmeet struck again for the USA on the next delivery to send David Miller packing for a golden duck as South Africa slipped to 126/3 in 12.3 overs.

Markam then put together a brief partnership for the fourth wicket with Heinrich Klaasen before finally perishing in the 15th over.

He smashed four fours and a six on his way to a 32-ball 46.

Following Markram’s dismissal, Klaasen and Tristian Stubbs knitted a crucial partnership and added valuable runs for South Africa at the backend.

The pair added 53 runs amid their unbeaten stand, conceding only 30 deliveries.

Klaasen scored an unbeaten 36 off 22 balls, featuring three sixes while Stubbs remained not out with a 16-ball 20.

For the USA, Saurabh Netravalkar and Harmeet Singh bagged two wickets each.

It is pertinent to mention that South Africa and the USA are placed in Group 2 of the Super Eight stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024.

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