In a remarkable display of batting, Quinton de Kock notched a second consecutive century, steering South Africa to a commanding victory over Australia by 134 runs at the ICC World Cup on Thursday.
The 30-year-old's stellar innings of 109 off 106 balls propelled South Africa to a formidable total of 311-7.
Read: World Cup 2023: de Kock's Century Boosts South Africa to 311 against Australia
Australia's fielding, undermined by five dropped catches, proved costly as they were subsequently bowled out for a mere 177.
Kagiso Rabada's impressive 3-33, supported by Keshav Maharaj's valuable 2-30, restricted the Australian batters during a tenacious 10-over spell.
While South Africa celebrate two wins in as many games, Australia, yet to secure a point, faces an uphill battle with a net run-rate plummeting to -1.84.
Read: World Cup 2023: Bangladesh gear up for familiar foe NZ in Friday’s encounter
The left-handed de Kock, in his final major international tournament, formed a formidable opening partnership with captain Temba Bavuma, ultimately setting the stage for South Africa's triumph. De Kock's impeccable form, marked by eight fours and five sixes, earned him his 19th ODI century.
However, the Australian side, once considered a strong contender for the semifinals, faces a steep challenge in reviving their ODI form, having suffered seven losses in their last eight matches, including four against South Africa.