South AfricaOn February 11, 2026, the batting power took center stage as they dismantled Afghanistan’s bowling attack in a decisive affair at Ahmedabad. T20 World Cup 2026 armature. Shots were determined by clinical ball striking Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickeltonwhose massive second wicket partnership essentially batted the opposition out of the contest. During this high-stakes encounter, Quinton de Kock managed to catch a legendary stage that he had previously organized AB de VilliersRewriting the history books for South African cricket. Their collective performance took the Proteas to a mammoth total of 187/6, leaving the Afghanistan side with an uphill chase.
Quinton de Kock broke AB de Villiers’ legendary Proteas record with his fifty against Afghanistan
In a moment that will be etched in the annals of South African cricket, Quinton de Kock officially surpassed legendary AB de Villiers To become the country’s highest run-scorer in T20 World Cup history. De Kock, who went into the match needing just a few runs to surpass his previous mark of 717, delivered a measured but authoritative knock of 59 off 41 balls to take his tournament tally to 737 runs. The milestone was achieved in 29 matches, just short of the 30 it took de Villiers to achieve the original record. In addition to the total, de Kock equaled de Villiers for the most fifties in the competition for South Africa, with both icons now tied on five.
T20 World Cup 2026: Ryan Rickelton-De Kock partnership destroys Afghanistan attack
The defining phase of the South African innings was a 114-run stand between de Kock and Ryan RickeltonHe dismantled Afghanistan’s spin-heavy strategy in the middle. after Aiden Markram fell early, Rickelton took the role of the main aggressor, smashing a maiden T20 World Cup half-century of 61 runs off just 28 balls. The 10th over proved to be the turning point as it robbed the pair of 23 runs. Nur Ahmedforcing the opposition into a defensive shell. while Rashid Khan Finally, he managed to take out both sets at the same time, the foundation was already laid for a big score. The late cameos ensured South Africa benefited from the early carnage, requiring Afghanistan to score around 9.5 runs per over.
Top 5 run scorers for South Africa in T20 World Cups
| Rank | Player | Runs Goal |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quinton de Kock | 737 |
| 2 | AB de Villiers | 717 |
| 3 | JP Duminy | 568 |
| 4 | David Miller | 482 |
| 5 | Aiden Markram | 448 |
Also READ: Sri Lanka star Wanindu Hasaranga to miss T20 World Cup 2026; change was announced
