Played My Natural Game: Quinton de Kock on His 178 vs Australia

“This group of players will have to play well and make sure that we find some good form because that will play a role going to Australia”, he added.

After winning the toss, Australia elected to field and didn’t get off to a great start.

In the process of overtaking Herschelle Gibbs’ 175, the previous best by a South African against Australia, De Kock broke what he said was his favourite bat.

“He was magnificent, ” Australian captain Steve Smith said of De Kock.

He said: “We thought it was a bit over par but there have been some pretty high chases here”.

Phehlukwayo had Hastings caught at long-off for 51 in the 46th over to end the stand. Bailey, batting at No 4, marshalled the innings well and was eighth out for 74.

Although all three spinners, Imran Tahir, Aaron Phangiso and Tabraiz Shamsi, feature in the squad, Du Plessis says the seam friendly conditions at SuperSport Park will change the role of the spinner.

The teams will clash again at the Wanderers on Sunday and the focus will be firmly on De Kock.

De Villiers was last week ruled out of both the current ODI series and the three-Test tour of Australia that will follow next month, after failing to recover from an injury to his left elbow.

Australia’s debutant new-ball combo of Chris Tremain and Joe Mennie took the brunt of the punishment from Rilee Rossouw and Faf du Plessis, who produced his sixth ODI ton. Rabada, named South Africa’s cricketer of the year in July, has played in 34 of South Africa’s 38 matches across all formats in the past year and there will be concerns about the risk of burn-out in a rare fast bowling talent.

“The guys are confident enough to know that they can take away games themselves”.

South Africa remained largely untroubled at 70 for one however, with Rossouw and Du Plessis guiding the home side to 146 before the fall of the second wicket. Rilee Rossouw got to his in 32 innings and joins Gary Kirsten, Jacques Kallis and Neil McKenzie who all got there in 32 innings.

Among others, Aldine Phehlukwayo bagged a four-for in only his second ODI but the sense one gets is the Aussies could look to play him a lot better than they did in the opening ODI.

It was due to his ton that South Africa managed to put a good score of 264 runs for the loss of two wickets in 40 overs. Australia is just ahead with 47 wins while South Africa has emerged victorious in 41 matches. Their biggest remains the 196-win at Cape Town in 2006.

Thereafter though, South Africa dominated, led by Du Plessis, who in conjunction with JP Duminy put on 150 for the third wicket in just 18 overs. While South Africa ended their Powerplay blemish free, Australia were 54 for 2 after 10 and lost George Bailey one over later, setting them back to a position they could not dig out of.