Proteas captain blasts his way to fastest hundred
The world best ODI batsman also hit an incredible 16 sixes that flew to all parts of the crowd.
South African cricket captain, AB de Villiers, amazed one and all with a blistering display of aggressive batting when he achieved two new world records in the second one day international (ODI) between South Africa and the West Indies at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.
De Villiers thrashed the ball to all parts as he smashed the record for the fastest century with his 100 coming from only 31 balls to steer the Proteas to a 148 run victory.
A couple of minutes earlier De Villiers broke the 20 year long record for the fastest half-century in ODI cricket when he achieved 50 from 19 balls.
The New Zealander, Cory Anderson, held the previous record for the world fastest century when he also smashed a beleaguered West Indian bowling attack to all parts in Queenstown in 2014.
De Villiers also only needed 40 minutes to complete his century as hew helped push South Africa to their highest ever ODI score of 439/2, thus surpassing their previous score of 438/9 which they scored against Australia in 2006.
The world best ODI batsman also hit an incredible 16 sixes that flew to all parts of the crowd.
“On this kind of wicket and on this field, if you’re in decent kind of form and you swing hard and you get a bit of luck behind you, you can do amazing things,” De Villers said in an interview with ESPNCricinfo.
Here are 10 interesting facts about our South African captain:
1) His full name in Abraham Benjamin de Villiers.
2) He is married to Danielle Swart.
3) De Villiers is also a part-time musician and has a great love for music. He recorded his debut album with songwriter and singer, Ampie du Preez called “Maak Jou Drome Waar,” in 2010.
4) His favourite cricket ground is Supersport Park in Centurion.
5) His favorite band is Snow Patrol.
6) De Villiers loves seafood and pasta and his favorite resturant is Crawdaddy’s in Menlyn.
7) He made his test debut on December 16, 2004 against England at St. Georges Park in Port Elizabeth.
8) He also enjoys a game of golf and has a zero handicap to prove it.
9) He was captain of South Africa’s junior national rugby team and holds six South African school swimming records.
10) He still holds the record in the 100m dash in South Africa’s junior athletics.
