Record-breaking De Villiers sets up huge Proteas win
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – AB de Villiers took 31 balls to smash the fastest century in one-day internationals as South Africa crushed West Indies by 148 runs at The Wanderers on Sunday.
De Villiers blasted a record-equalling 16 sixes and nine fours in his blistering 44-ball knock of 149, bettering New Zealander Corey Anderson's 36-ball century against West Indies last year.
Hashim Amla (153 not out) and Rilee Rossouw (128) also picked up tons in the South African innings on a flat Wanderers wicket, before Morne Morkel andVernon Philander picked up two wickets each with the ball.
Dwayne Smith (64) and Denesh Ramdin (57) were the pick of the visiting batsman but no-one could match the explosiveness and De Villiers to give West Indies a chance at the win.
The third ODI will be played in East London on Wednesday.
De Villiers smashes fastest ODI ton in 31 balls
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – AB de Villiers took 31 balls to smash the fastest century in one-day internationals on Sunday as South Africa posted 439 for two wickets, their highest team total in this format, in the second ODI against West Indies at the Wanderers.
Described by retired Australian stumper Adam Gilchrist as the "most valuable cricketer on the planet" earlier this week, de Villiers blasted 16 sixes and nine fours in his blistering 44-ball knock of 149, bettering New Zealander Corey Anderson's 36-ball century against West Indies last year.
The 30-year-old right-hander went down on his knees and slog-swept Jason Holder over deep mid-wicket for his 10th six to bring up his century before raising his bat and taking off his helmet with a broad smile on his face.
Coming out to bat after a 247-run opening stand between Hashim Amla (153 not out) and Rilee Rossouw (128), de Villiers set a new record for the fastest half-century as well.
He reached the milestone in 16 balls, improving the previous best mark of Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya against Pakistan in 1996 by a delivery.
Known for his improvisation, the Proteas ODI captain manufactured big shots and cleared the boundary at will, equaling the world record for 16 sixes in an ODI innings.
He was eventually out in the final over of the innings, one run away from shattering the record for fastest 150, currently held by Australian Shane Watson who reached the mark in 83 balls against Bangladesh.
"He said he was going to have a look for one over but hit his first six balls for 24. He is an amazing player," Amla said about De Villiers, who ripped apart the West Indian attack after coming to the crease in the 39th over.
Rossouw struck his maiden ODI century with a relatively sedate 128 from 115 deliveries, while Amla registered his highest ODI score from 142 balls.
South Africa beat their previous highest 50-over score of 438 at the same ground against Australia in 2006.
Natural talent De Villiers thrills on record day
By Nick Said
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – AB de Villiers may not be considered one of the genuine power-hitters of the game, but his record-breaking innings in Sunday's second one-day international against West Indies at The Wanderers showed he is arguably the most skilled.
The South African captain belted a century off 31 balls, five deliveries quicker than previous record-holder Corey Anderson against the same wilting West Indian attack last year.
But there was not a slog to be seen as he manoeuvred himself around the crease to create the right angles to score, and used his incredible eye and quick hands to loft the ball through the thin Highveld air and over the boundary.
Having sat through almost 39 overs as South Africa piled on 247-runs for the opening wicket, De Villiers promoted himself up the order.
When he joined Hashim Amla in the middle, he told his fellow batsman that he was "going to have a look for one over."
That theory lasted only seconds as he slapped his first ball down the ground for four.
When he took 20 runs from four balls in Andre Russell's next over, he set himself up for a shot at the record for the quickest half-century and got there with two more sixes off opposing captain Jason Holder.
Not content to take a breather, he struck the next ball for six too as a Wanderers crowd that have seen many special knocks from De Villiers before began to sense they were in for another treat.
And he just kept going.
West Indies tried varying the length, the line and the pace of their deliveries but it made no difference.
As he neared the record for the fastest century, he used the same method to get past that milestone off the same unfortunate bowler.
Two sixes to pass the record and the next ball over the boundary too as if to emphasise his dominance.
There was little fuss at reaching the milestone either: A smile, a casual raise of the bat and hug for batting partner Amla.
MISSED OPPORTUNITY
If there could ever be a disappointment to come from such a brilliant innings, it is that De Villiers fell one run short of shattering another record.
When he was caught by Russell, he was out for 149 from 44 deliveries. It meant he had missed out on also notching up the fastest 150 in ODI cricket, that record held by Australia's Shane Watson off a relatively sedate 83 deliveries.
But De Villiers does not care about that, if he did he would have taken an easy single. Instead he was caught on the cover boundary going for another six.
When he first came on the international scene as a raw but talented 21-year-old in 2004, he brashly stated his ambition was to be the best batsman in the world.
There were more than a few raised eyebrows at the time, but on Sunday former England bowler Bob Willis summed up De Villiers' standing in the sport.
"I've been saying for the last 30 years that Viv Richards has to be the best batsman of all time, even better than Sir Don Bradman in my book," he said. "But I'm going to have to reassess because this guy is something extraordinary."
DEVILLIERS UNPRECEDENTED IN WORLD CRICKET: BACHER
After Sunday's carnage at the Wanderers where Proteas captain AB de Villiers rewrote the record books, former South African cricket captain Ali Bacher said his admiration for De Villiers knew no bounds.
"In my opinion, AB is the most brilliant, innovative batsman the world has ever seen," Bacher said after witnessing De Villiers' extraordinary knock.
De Villiers scored the fastest ever One Day International century in South Africa's 148-run victory over the West Indies at the Bullring on Sunday, bludgeoning his way to 104 off 31 balls
De Villiers exhibited an unparalleled display of strokeplay, including 16 sixes and nine fours in an explosive knock. During his innings, he also set the record for the fastest ODI 50, reaching his half-century off 16 balls.
"AB's shots are unprecedented in the game. I've watched him play shots no one else has ever played before and the extraordinary part is that he doesn't practise them."
Interviewing De Villiers recently for a book Bacher is writing with David Williams — on South Africa's top 11 batsmen of all time — Bacher asked De Villiers how often he practised his unorthodox shots before a game.
"I asked him if he practised those shots in the nets over and over again, so that they became automatic once he was out in the middle," Bacher said.
"His reply was an emphatic 'no'. He said it was pure instinct and he played with gut feel.
"His instinctive genius at the crease sets him apart and, not only that, he is a humble and respectful human being. You can tell he is proud to be South African. In my opinion, he is a great South African."
Bacher said it was not only his exceptional talent which had impressed him but his attitude which had left him with such a good impression.
"AB was running a few minutes late for his interview and instead of just turning up, he took the trouble to call me and say he was caught in traffic and would be a couple of minutes late.
"His whole demeanour during the interview impressed me. He seems to have all-round, exceptional qualities for a sportsman of such international stature.
"I strongly believe that AB, together with Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis, can take South Africa to new and great heights in world cricket."
De Villiers is ranked the number one ODI batsman in the world and is lying second — by one point only — behind Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara in the Test batting rankings.
Source : Sapa /jlb/jje