If there was ever any doubt about AB de Villiers’ status as the world’s No.1 ranked one-day international batsman, it was surely blown to smithereens at the SCG on Friday.
The crowd might have come expecting to see Chris Gayle produce another swashbuckling innings after the West Indian star blasted a tournament record 215 against Zimbabwe in Canberra earlier in the week.
Instead they watched hurricane de Villiers lay waste to the West Indies attack for the second time in little more than a month,
de Villiers notched the fastest ever ODI 50 and 100 against West Indies in Johannesburg in January, and on Friday added the quickest ever 150 to his growing list of records.
He finished 162 not out off 66 balls, smashing 17 fours and eight sixes.
Those bare bones statistics don’t begin to hint at the majesty of his innings.
de Villiers thrilled the crowd with an audacious array of improvised strokeplay in addition to some lusty power hitting and perfect placement.
He offered a couple of chances to fieldsmen near the end of his mighty knock, but by then the West indies had been batted out of the contest.
They needed another big innings from Gayle, but they didn’t even get a cameo.
The power-hitting left-hander was bowled in the second over by recalled paceman Kyle Abbott, having scored just three off four balls.
de Villiers then drew more kudos by taking a fine running and diving catch to dismiss Jonathan Carter, as the West Indies lost their first five wickets for 53. ranked one-day international batsman, it was surely blown to smithereens at the SCG on Friday.
The crowd might have come expecting to see Chris Gayle produce another swashbuckling innings after the West Indian star blasted a tournament record 215 against Zimbabwe in Canberra earlier in the week.
Instead they watched hurricane de Villiers lay waste to the West Indies attack for the second time in little more than a month,
de Villiers notched the fastest ever ODI 50 and 100 against West Indies in Johannesburg in January, and on Friday added the quickest ever 150 to his growing list of records.
He finished 162 not out off 66 balls, smashing 17 fours and eight sixes.
Those bare bones statistics don’t begin to hint at the majesty of his innings.
de Villiers thrilled the crowd with an audacious array of improvised strokeplay in addition to some lusty power hitting and perfect placement.
He offered a couple of chances to fieldsmen near the end of his mighty knock, but by then the West indies had been batted out of the contest.
They needed another big innings from Gayle, but they didn’t even get a cameo.
The power-hitting left-hander was bowled in the second over by recalled paceman Kyle Abbott, having scored just three off four balls.
de Villiers then drew more kudos by taking a fine running and diving catch to dismiss Jonathan Carter, as the West Indies lost their first five wickets for 53.
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