De Villiers shatters world record and West Indies in 2nd ODI

AB de Villiers hit the fastest century in one-day international history as South Africa overwhelmed the West Indies in the second one-day international at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday.

De Villiers raced to his century off 31 balls - five balls fewer than the previous record - on the way to an astonishing 149 off 44 balls.

With opening batsmen Hashim Amla and Rilee Rossouw also hitting centuries in a South African record first wicket stand, South Africa piled up a massive 439 for two.

The West Indies were never likely to chase down a world record target but managed a respectable 291 for seven to give South Africa a 148-run win and a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

The target was never likely to be within the reach of the West Indies, especially after big-hitting Chris Gayle was caught at deep midwicket off Morne Morkel for 19 in the fifth over.

Dwayne Smith, caught off a Morkel no-ball in the first over when he had four, made 64 off 65 balls and Denesh Ramdin contributed 57 off 55 deliveries.

Amla (153 not out) and Rossouw (128) put on 247 for the first wicket - a record partnership for any wicket for South Africa.

Rossouw was dismissed off the third ball of the 39th over. De Villiers promoted himself to number three and struck the ball out of the middle of his bat from the first delivery he faced, which he thrashed for four past bowler Jerome Taylor.

He went to fifty off 16 balls, one fewer than Sanath Jayasuriya's previous record for the fastest half-century, for Sri Lanka against Pakistan in 1995/96, then powered his way past Corey Anderson's record for the fastest century.

He took five balls fewer than Anderson's hundred for New Zealand against the West Indies in 2013/14.

The South African captain's innings included 16 sixes, equalling the world record set by Rohit Sharma when he hit 209 for India against Australia in Bangalore in 2013/14.

West Indian players rushed to congratulate him and Gayle, who played a match-winning Twenty20 innings at the Wanderers a week earlier, bowed in salute as De Villiers walked past him.

South Africa went past their own previous highest total - the 438 for nine they scored in a record run chase against Australia on the same ground in 2005/06 - and Sri Lanka's world record of 443 for nine against the Netherlands in 2006 seemed set to fall.

But De Villiers hit the fourth ball of the final over from Andre Russell to deep cover and Amla could not score off the final two deliveries.

Amla's 153 not out was scored off 142 balls with 14 fours, while Rossouw hit his 128 off 115 balls with 11 fours and two sixes.

It was a maiden century for the left-handed Rossouw, who had the dubious distinction of having made five ducks in his previous ten one-day international innings.

The third ODI will be played in East London on Wednesday.  

Fastest

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.

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