CRICKET NEWS - By the time the Proteas reached a massive 353/6 in the second ODI against Bangladesh in Paarl on Wednesday, not many people were paying notice to the total anymore.
AB de Villiers made sure of that.
South Africa’s gifted stroke-maker well and truly showed he’s still hungry for international runs as he whacked a magnificent 176 off just 104 balls.
It was a mesmerising performance that will have many opponents now shuddering about what he could be capable of again in the build-up to the 2019 World Cup.
This was De Villiers’ first international innings since he decided to give up the one-day captaincy and only concentrate on being a senior player.
The first result of that decision has already been spectacular.
De Villiers reached his century off 68 balls.
The scary part about that stat is that it’s only his sixth-fastest century in ODIs.
Of course, he holds the world record for his 31-ball stunner against the West Indies in 2015 and there have been efforts of 52 balls (West Indies in the 2015 World Cup), 57 balls (India in 2015) and 58 balls (India in 2010).
In other words, this ton was “slow”.
De Villiers’ knock is the Proteas’ highest individual score against Bangladesh, beating the unbeaten 168 Quinton de Kock made in Kimberley on Sunday.
It’s also South Africa’s fourth highest in ODI history behind Gary Kirsten (188*), Faf du Plessis (185) and De Kock (178).
As consolation, it’s De Villiers’ career-best score.
