De Kock (68 off 35, 4×4, 4×6) attacked with ferocity, taking the scoring rate to nearly 10 runs per over for much of the first half, but England fought back with some excellent fielding, taking wickets at regular intervals, which proved to be the highlight of their effort.
Apart from de Kock’s brilliance, David Miller’s late resistance – 43 runs off 28 balls (4×4, 2×6) – saved SA from embarrassment.
De Kock spearheaded South Africa’s rapid rise with a ferocious attack on the England bowlers, particularly Jofra Archer (3/40), despite Reece Topley’s defense at the other end in the powerplay.
De Kock erased a slow start with a six and a four off Moeen Ali at the end of the second over, then dominated Archer in the fourth, hitting two sixes and as many fours to score 21.
De Kock took advantage of Archer’s speed, flicking him off his pads and clearing the fine leg, then hit him with two thunderous hits over midwicket for a six and a four, before scoring a perfectly executed uppercut for four to leave the English side in stitches.
South Africa also had a stroke of luck when De Kock swept a ball towards fine leg from Adil Rashid which Mark Wood caught but television replays showed part of the ball had touched the ground.
But England soon broke through, and in the 10th over, Reeza Hendricks lunged at Moeen, who then took a regulation catch to put South Africa on the back foot.
With the run rate approaching 10, promoting Heinrich Klaassen seemed the right move, but he was thwarted by some excellent work from Wood.
With the batsmen walking away, Wood played a short ball to Klaassen, who tried to make a quick run but Wood was quick to get to the ball, uprooted the stumps and caught the batsman-wicketkeeper just short of the crease.
Archer was denied the ball and came back to exact revenge, but the blame lay squarely on captain Jos Buttler. De Kock tried to tear a short ball away from his body, but Buttler made a phenomenal dive to snatch it with his left hand.
A sliding tackle from South Africa gave England the initiative back and they went further when Rashid dragged captain Aiden Markram (1) for the wicket.
South Africa were up 86 for 0 at one point but then slumped to 113 for four by the 15th over, losing steam.
As wickets fell one after the other at one end, Miller held on and a late onslaught helped South Africa pass the 150 mark.
