Johannesburg: Premier South African batsman AB de Villiers Sunday cracked the fastest century in One-Day International (ODI) history, reaching three figures in just 31 deliveries against the West Indies at the New Wanderers Stadium here.
The previous One-Day International record was held by New Zealander Corey Anderson, who took 36 balls to reach his ton playing against the same opponents a year ago.
However, Chris Gayle’s 100 from 30 balls in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in April 2013 is the fastest century in cricket history.
De Villiers, who ended up scoring a 44-ball 149, hammered 16 sixes that also helped him share the record of scoring maximum sixes in an ODI innings with Indian Rohit Sharma.
Openers Hashim Amla (not out 153) and Rilee Rossouw (128) provided the platform for the 30-year-old De Villiers to explode as the trio helped South Africa register their highest total in an ODI of 439 for two — bettering the total of 438 for nine the Proteas scored against Australia in 2006.
Sunday’s total was just four short of the all-time ODI record score of 443 for nine set by Sri Lanka against the Netherlands in July 2006 and highest against a Test-playing nation.
South African skipper De Villiers, who bludgeoned nine fours to score his 19th century, reached half century in 16 balls. The innings also saw three centuries scored for the first time.
De Villiers forged a 67-ball 192-run partnership for the third wicket with the 31-year-old Amla, who scored his 18th ODI hundred.
Amid all this carnage, the 25-year-old Rossouw, who had six ducks in his first 16 international innings, recorded his maiden century.
(IANS)
