The South African opener Quinton de Kock experienced an atypical beginning to his matchday when he discovered that he had left his bats behind 30 minutes before the team bus was scheduled to depart for the stadium. The wicketkeeper-batter admitted he felt embarrassed and during his phone calls he tried to retrieve his lost items. Unexpectedly de Kock discovered his solution when he entered the dressing room. He went to the field after borrowing a bat from his teammate Dewald Brevis. De Kock said: “Before I got into the change room, I went looking around between [Dewald] Brevi[s] and Ricks [Ryan Rickelton] and I just pulled one out of Brevi’s bag. I said, I’m just going to use this one today. Brevi said, ‘It’s fine, it’s a good bat for you because it’s a left-handed bat’.” De Kock opened the innings with self-assurance despite the awkward circumstances. Also Read | Super Smash starrer Ben Sears added to New Zealand 2026 T20 World Cup squad as substitute De Kock admits bat did not suit him The borrowed bat which he used for his best innings of his career, de Kock explained that he would return to his own equipment after he received it. He Added: “The weight was out of place for me. The weight was out of place for me. It’s for youngsters who swing hard. So I won’t be having it back at any time.” South Africa wins through explosive century performance De Kock played a breathtaking knock during the 222-target chase when he scored 115 runs from 49 balls. His innings included six fours and ten sixes, scoring at a stunning strike rate of 234.69. Ryan Rickelton provided strong support to him as he scored 77 runs in 36 balls. South Africa completed their target in 17.5 overs to secure victory through seven wickets. The relationship between De Kock and the West Indies remains strong This was De Kock's second T20I century, and he accomplished it against West Indies at Centurion. His first T20I hundred at the same venue came in 2023 when he also reached the milestone in 43 balls. De Kock missed the last match because he needed rest after his successful SA20 season with Sunrisers Eastern Cape during which he scored 390 runs in 11 innings and received the Player of the Tournament award. De Kock needs to maintain his form because his performance will determine South Africa's success at the T20 World Cup 2026 which begins on February 7.