Having taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, the West Indies amassed 258-5 in the second T20I, in Centurion. Johnson Charles raced to his hundred in 39 balls, beating Chris Gayle’s West Indian record of 47 by some distance.

Charles hit 10 fours and 11 sixes in his 46-ball 118, helping the West Indies equal Afghanistan’s world record of 22 sixes in a T20I innings. South Africa would also hit 13, helping eclipse the world record of 33 sixes, set by Bulgaria and Serbia in Sofia in 2022.

In the history of T20Is, no team had chased a total more than Bulgaria’s 246 against Serbia in the same match. To rewrite history, South Africa needed a special effort, and that came from de Kock at the top.

De Kock hit Akeal Hosein for fours off each of the first two balls of the innings. In the next over, bowled by Sheldon Cottrell, he hit three sixes and a four off the first four balls.

He flicked Romario Shepherd for six to reach his fifty off only 15 balls – the quickest by a South African. The chase was only 4.1 overs old. South Africa raced to 102-0 after six overs – the highest powerplay score in a T20I between two ICC Full Members.

After 10 overs, South Africa were 149-0. In the 11th, de Kock pushed Raymon Reifer for a single to reach his maiden T20I hundred, off only 43 balls. Reifer had de Kock caught behind later in that over, but by then the damage had been done.

Reeza Hendricks made 68 in 28 balls, while Rilee Rossouw (16 in 4), Aiden Markram (38 not out in 21), and Heinrich Klaasen (16 not out in 7) ensured the asking rate never went out of reach. South Africa made a mockery of the chase, reaching home with seven balls to spare.

Ironically, the slowest batter of the innings was David Miller (10 in 10), the joint holder of the world record for the fastest T20I century.

Watch Quinton de Kock slam a 44-ball 100 here:

That was special 🔥#SAvWI #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/rruu4aYa0h

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) March 26, 2023