Watch: Pat Cummins’ terrific catch at the Eden Gardens helped Josh Hazlewood extend his terrific run against Quinton de Kock in ODIs.
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The floodlights were on long before the toss at the second semi-final of the 2023 World Cup, in Kolkata. The ground staff had a busy day as well: they had covered the ground in its entirety, then took the covers away, returned to protect the pitch, before finally resting with the covers just outside the boundary ropes.
It was under these conditions that Temba Bavuma opted to bat, then edged one off Mitchell Starc to Josh Inglis in the first over. In windy conditions, Starc and Josh Hazlewood bowled to an excellent line and length, moving the ball both in the air and off the surface.
Sometimes they beat the bat; when they did not, they forced Quinton de Kock, playing in his last ODI tournament, and Rassie van der Dussen to defend.
Until the semi-final, only one bowler had dismissed de Kock more than five times in ODIs, and had Hazlewood had dismissed exactly one batter more than five times: each other, and seven times.
Here, after struggling for 13 balls, de Kock decided to take on his nemesis. He tried to clear long-on but did not time it at all. As the ball went up vertically, Pat Cummins ran backwards from mid-on, held the ball above his head, and fell on the ground without losing the ball upon impact.
In 15 ODIs, Hazlewood has now bowled 173 balls at de Kock, conceding 126 runs and claiming the South African eight times. De Kock averages 15.75 against Hazlewood and has struck at a mere 73.
Watch Quinton de Kock fall to Josh Hazlewood:
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