Quinton de Kock flailed a flagging attack as he hit an unbeaten 141 to lift South Africa to a first innings total of 322 and a commanding lead at tea on the second day of the first Test against West Indies in St Lucia. De Kock reached his century with a six, one of seven in the innings also embellished by 12 fours off 170 deliveries.
Quinton de Kock dedicated his sixth Test century, and highest score in the format, to a friend who lost his finger in Afghanistan and to rhino conservation in South Africa. de Kock celebrated both his fifty and his hundred by holding his bat lengthwise to show the name of Rockwood, an organisation fighting to save the endangered rhino, and made a hand gesture, holding the ring finger of his right hand down with his thumb and spreading the other three fingers.
In the end of the day press conference he gave more details. “I am doing Rockwood and the Rhino conservation and it’s a whole group of us. The one night we had a braai and we started talking and I said his finger being shot off is quite a limelight in our group of friends so I said I will do that as an accolade for him. I couldn’t believe it happened first time. I am sure my phone with the boys’ group is going to be buzzing.”
Here’s more on the initiative