DSG DUO DE KOCK AND MAHARAJ SLAY KENSINGTON OVAL GHOSTS

Durban’s Super Giants’ Proteas duo Quinton de Kock and Keshav Maharaj returned to the Kensington Oval for the first time since the fateful ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final defeat to India a couple of months ago in the Caribbean Premier League last night. 

Playing for the home team, the Barbados Royals, the pair were able to lay some of their ghosts to rest by combining excellently against the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, guiding the Royals to a comfortable 10-run DLS victory. 

With the ball, Maharaj’s experience shone through. The left-arm spinner, who was making his CPL debut for the Royals, delivered an excellent four-over spell, conceding just 19 runs whilst picking up the wicket of his new DSG teammate Brandon King (27 off 19 balls; 5x4).

It was a crucial breakthrough after the Falcons had raced to 55 without loss in the PowerPlay. 

Fellow Super Giants fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq complimented Maharaj with figures of 2/34 to help restrict the Falcons to 176/5.

De Kock set up the run chase with 48 off 30 balls (4x4 ; 2x6) at the top of the order before Paarl Royals skipper and fellow Proteas star David Miller hit an unbeaten 19 off 13 balls (3x4) when the heavens opened with the Barbados Royals on 127/3 off 14.3 overs - 10 runs ahead of the DLS target.

De Kock, who was named Player of the Match for another confident knock with the bat, has shown during this CPL that he has lost none of his hunger for the game as he has racked up 154 runs in three innings at an average of 77 in this year’s competition so far.