|
|
Dashing South African opener Quinton De Kock vowed his team will go for a 4-1 win over Pakistan in the fifth and final one-day here today.
The 20-year-old smashed his maiden hundred to help South Africa beat Pakistan by 28 runs in the fourth one-day in Abu Dhabi on Friday, taking an unassailable 3-1 lead.
And the swashbuckling but modest left-hander said South Africa will go for the kill.
“We definitely look to get it 4-1 and that is our main goal and if we do that it would be awesome,” De Kock said after team practice yesterday.
De Kock said his innings was more pleasing as it helped his team win.
“It was great,” said De Kock of his 135-ball 112.
“It was a tight knock and I enjoyed it a lot and it was more good for the team that with the match we won the series so it was good,” said De Kock, dropped by Mohammad Hafeez off paceman Sohail Tanvir when on three.
The Gauteng born De Kock said his hard work paid off after a disappointing one-day series in Sri Lanka in July this year.
“I got back and worked hard and did a lot of analysis and technical work and that is paying off. It was difficult to face Pakistani spinners, it’s always a big challenge but I am happy that the hard work is paying off,” said De Kock who had scores of 20, 8 and 27 in Sri Lanka.
He replaced injured Graeme Smith in the fourth match and instantly made his mark with a 40 in the third match, which South Africa won by 68 runs.
“I wouldn’t say that I have replaced Graeme, they are big shoes to fall in so I have to make sure that I meet those standards,” said De Kock.
“It’s great to be in the team. All accept me what I am and it’s a great team environment,” said De Kock, who has modelled his batting on former Australian great Adam Gilchrist.
Pakistan’s newcomer Sohaib Maqsood said his team will try to salvage some pride in the final match.
“It is true that the series is gone but on Monday we will have another international match and we will do our best to win it,” said Maqsood who made an aggressive 56 on debut in the fourth match.
“There is huge disappointment in the camp over the series loss but we have another match to play, then two Twenty20 and then a short tour of South Africa so the focus is to do better,” said Maqsood, 26.
After the one-day series, both team will play two Twenty20 matches in Dubai on November 13 and 15 before the teams move to South Africa to play two Twenty20s and three one-days.