It was an endearing watch for South African cricket fans, at least for those who would have been able to watch in the ongoing mob loot and clashes in the country, as two openers Janneman Malan and Quinton de Kock scored brilliant hundreds to propel the visitors to a huge total of 347 against hosts Ireland.
Under the pump after losing the second game of the three-match series with the first match being washed out, the Proteas showed great resolve as they mounted 225 for the first wicket with both openers reaching their respective hundreds. In fact, on his way top hundred, de Kock became only the second South African wicketkeeper after Mark Boucher and only the seventh in the world to reach 10,000 international runs across all formats.
Not only that, de Kock als0 became the youngest and quickest wicket-keeper batsman to reach the 10,000 run landmark in international cricket. The 28-year-old batter recorded his 16th century as a wicketkeeper opener to join Australian great Adam Gilchrist at the top of that list. He is now the fifth quickest overall and second quick among Proteas after Hashim Amla to score 16 centuries. He achieved the feat in his 124th innings while Amla did it in only 94 innings.
As far as Malan is concerned, playing only his seventh ODI, the 25-year-old struck his second hundred. His score of unbeaten 177 is also the fourth-highest individual score in an ODI by any South Africa batter, the best being 188 not out by Gary Kirsten in 1996. His partnership of 225 with fellow opener de Kock is also the second-highest opening stand for South Africa in ODIs and fell short by just 10 runs off the highest partnership recorded by Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs against India in 2000.
No other batter apart from these two was able to leave as imp[ressive a mark in this game. The Irish team led by Andrew Balbirnie would look to go all ou tin chase of this total and at the time writing this, they were 27-2 after seven overs.