Swashbuckling AB de Villiers rewrites record books

AB de Villiers now owns the fastest 50, 100 and 150 in the 50-over game, and second fastest century in World Cup cricket.

AB de Villiers and the South Africans again rewrote the record books after putting up a stunning 408 for 5 against the West Indies in the World Cup Poll 'B' match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

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South Africa's captain struck a career-best 162 not out from just 66 balls in a sensational display of batting pyrotechnics, hitting 17 fours and eight sixes in his explosive innings.

De Villiers smashes 162 to drive South Africa to 408-5

Scorecard

The 31-year-old de Villiers, who holds the record for the fastest ever ODI hundred off just 31 balls, notched the second quickest century in any World Cup with his 52-ball knock. He missed bettering the 50-ball hundred by Ireland's Kevin O'Brien, against England in 2011 edition, by just two balls.

De Villiers reached the 150 mark in a world record 64 balls — 19 balls better than the previous record held by Shane Watson, against Bangladesh in Dhaka in 2011.

He now owns the records for the fastest 50, 100 and 150 in the 50-over game and second fastest century in World Cup cricket.

De Villiers was particularly harsh against West Indies captain and pacer Jason Holder who he hit for 34 runs – four boundaries and two sixes -- in the 48th over which had two no-ball free-hits.

This was the second-most runs scored in an over in a World Cup, behind Herschelle Gibbs's 36 against the Netherlands in the 2007 edition.

The rampaging South African captain also smashed Holder for 30 runs in the final over with the help a boundary and four sixes. His stroke-making prowess was such that he took just 12 balls to reach 150 from 100.

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