- Proteas star Quinton de Kock is enjoying his cricket at the moment as he continues his fine form in the Caribbean.
- In his 50th T20I, De Kock led the South African batting effort in the third T20 against the West Indies, making 72.
- De Kock says winning with close margins is a good sign for the Proteas in a T20 World Cup year.
Star Proteas batsman Quinton de Kock said it was a "lekker" feeling to play in his 50th T20I for the Proteas.
De Kock reached the milestone in South Africa's one-run victory against West Indies in the third T20 on Tuesday.
The Proteas opener top-scored with 72 off 51 balls, which included five fours and two sixes as the visitors took a 2-1 lead in the five-match T20 series.
The 28-year-old became the sixth player to play a half-century of T20Is for South Africa, joining David Miller (84*), JP Duminy (81), AB de Villiers (78), Faf du Plessis (50) and Albie Morkel (50).
"I didn't know it was my 50th until a friend in the team told me. It's just a great day to get out there and win the game, that's the most important thing," De Kock said in a CSA video.
The world-class wicketkeeper/batsman is sought after in various T20 leagues like the Indian Premier League and soon to be played The Hundred.
De Kock admits he doesn't have time to look at personal stats.
"No, we just play way too much cricket just to keep up with everything. Maybe when I'm closer towards the end of my career but for now, no. I'm just soldiering on and carry on going."
De Kock, who was relieved from his captaincy duties, has had a stellar season in the Caribbean thus far.
He was the leading run-scorer in the two-match Test series triumph, scoring 237 runs with an unbeaten 141 in the first Test.
So far in the ongoing T20 series, De Kock is leading with 135 runs at a strike rate of 142.10.
On Tuesday, De Kock's innings of 72 helped set up the Proteas but a middle-order collapse saw them post 167/8.
The Proteas bowlers starred as Tabraiz Shamsi and Anrich Nortje dismantled the West Indies to help them take a lead in the series.
De Kock says winning by these close margins is a massive confidence booster heading into a T20 World Cup year.
"It was a good win for us, winning games like this is key to the way we go about things going forward," he said.
"It adds confidence towards us, not just me but to the bowlers and to the rest of the batters. Winning these close margin games is a good sign but it's still early days, we'll see what happens."
It seems like a 'settled' environment is being created in the Proteas camp with De Kock enjoying his cricket at the moment.
"It's been great, West Indies is a fun place to play cricket. We've got a good bunch of lads in the team with a great sense of humour and guys who are hungry, which is nice to have around," said De Kock.
"We have a ton of fun, which is quite cool... It's all part of preparation ahead of the T20 World Cup. So it's good to have the whole core playing together."
The fourth T20 is scheduled for Thursday at 20:00 SA time.