Quinton de Kock's Remarkable Century with a Borrowed Bat
In an extraordinary turn of events, South African wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock crafted a match-winning innings of 115 runs in the second T20 International against West Indies, all while using a borrowed bat. The 33-year-old former captain, who had forgotten his kit bags at a coastal hotel, turned a potential disaster into a spectacular performance at Centurion on Thursday, January 29, 2026.
A Forgetful Moment Leads to an Unlikely Partnership
De Kock realized his mistake just half an hour before the team bus was scheduled to depart for the match. With the flight time from the coast to Super Sport Park exceeding two hours, retrieving his own equipment was impossible. "I felt a bit stupid when I noticed earlier," de Kock admitted in a post-match interview. "I have got some new bags over the last year, so I was going through all bits and bobs, and I just went blank. I don't know, I forgot."
Faced with this dilemma, de Kock took matters into his own hands. Before entering the change room, he scoured the dressing room, eventually selecting a bat from teammate Dewald Brevis's bag. "I said, 'I'm just going to use this one today'," de Kock recounted. Brevis responded positively, noting that it was a left-handed bat suitable for de Kock. The veteran batsman humorously remarked, "Wow! Youngsters these days!" reflecting on the camaraderie within the team.
A Dominant Performance on the Field
Despite the unconventional start, de Kock's innings was nothing short of masterful. He smashed his second T20I hundred off just 49 balls, featuring ten sixes and six boundaries. This century mirrored his previous T20I hundred, which also came against West Indies at the same venue in 2023. De Kock forged a formidable 162-run partnership for the second wicket with Ryan Rickelton, who contributed 77 runs. His innings concluded in the 15th over when he was dismissed by Akeal Hosein after miscuing a shot.
South Africa secured a convincing seven-wicket victory, taking a 2-0 lead in the three-match series after also winning the opening match at Paarl by nine wickets. De Kock praised the pitch conditions, stating, "The wicket was very good and we played accordingly. It was really nice." He added, "I really enjoyed my innings. It was great and we won the game."
Reflections and Future Plans
While de Kock appreciated the opportunity to play with Brevis's bat, he expressed a preference for his own equipment. "If my bats come before the next game, I will be using my own bats so no, that bat is going back to Brevis," he confirmed. He noted that the borrowed bat's weight felt off for his style, describing it as suited for "youngsters who swing hard."
De Kock, who was rested along with Tristan Stubbs and Marco Jansen for the first T20I, is set to feature in the third and final match at Johannesburg. Following this series, the South African team will travel to India for the ICC T20 World Cup. Reflecting on his return to international cricket, de Kock has previously emphasized missing the camaraderie and pride of representing the Proteas.
This incident highlights not only de Kock's adaptability and skill but also the spirit of teamwork in cricket. As South Africa continues its preparations for the upcoming World Cup, such moments of resilience and collaboration bode well for the team's prospects on the global stage.
