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South Africa’s batting powerhouse took center stage in Ahmedabad on February 11, 2026, as they dismantled the Afghan bowling attack in a crucial T20 World Cup 2026 fixture. The innings was defined by clinical ball-striking from Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton, whose massive second-wicket partnership essentially batted the opposition out of the contest. During this high-stakes encounter, Quinton de Kock managed to eclipse a legendary milestone previously held by AB de Villiers, rewriting the history books for South African cricket. Their collective performance propelled the Proteas to a formidable total of 187/6, leaving the Afghan side with a mountainous chase.
Quinton de Kock shatters AB de Villiers’ legendary Proteas record with a blazing fifty against Afghanistan
In a moment that will be etched in the annals of South African cricket, Quinton de Kock officially surpassed the legendary AB de Villiers to become the nation’s highest run-scorer in T20 World Cup history. Entering the match needing just a handful of runs to eclipse the previous benchmark of 717, de Kock played a measured yet authoritative knock of 59 off 41 balls, taking his tournament tally to 737 runs. This milestone was achieved in 29 matches, one fewer than the 30 appearances it took de Villiers to set the original record. Beyond the aggregate, de Kock also equaled de Villiers for the most fifty-plus scores for South Africa in the competition, with both icons now tied at five.
T20 World Cup 2026: Ryan Rickelton-De Kock partnership decimates the Afghanistan attack
The defining phase of the South African innings was a blistering 114-run stand between de Kock and Ryan Rickelton, which dismantled Afghanistan’s spin-heavy strategy in the middle overs. After Aiden Markram fell early, Rickelton took on the role of the primary aggressor, smashing a maiden T20 World Cup half-century with 61 runs off just 28 balls. The 10th over proved to be the turning point, as the pair looted 23 runs off Noor Ahmad, forcing the opposition into a defensive shell. While Rashid Khan eventually managed to remove both set batters in the same over, the foundation had already been laid for a massive score. Late cameos ensured that South Africa capitalized on the early carnage, finishing with a total that required Afghanistan to score at nearly 9.5 runs per over.
Top 5 run-scorers for South Africa in T20 World Cups
| Rank | Player | Runs Scored |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quinton de Kock | 737 |
| 2 | AB de Villiers | 717 |
| 3 | JP Duminy | 568 |
| 4 | David Miller | 482 |
| 5 | Aiden Markram | 448 |
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