Playing against the West Indies is an adrenalin rush for AB de Villiers.
Turn the clock back to January 18 when an on-fire De Villiers cracked the fastest 50 and fastest 100 in ODI history, in the same dig.
His 50 came up in 16 deliveries with three fours and five sixes, the 100 off 31 deliveries with eight fours and 16 sixes – the sixes world record De Villiers shares with Rohit Sharma and Chris Gayle.
South Africa that day posted 2-439 to thump the West Indies by 148. On Saturday at the SCG, De Villiers added the fastest 150 in ODI history to his CV off just 64 deliveries, with 17 fours and six sixes.
In the 48th over, De Villiers carved 34 off the medium-pace bowling of West Indies captain Jason Holder, and in tandem with Rilee Rossouw took another 30 off the final over.
In all, South Africa scored 222 off the last 15 overs to post 5-408 to embarrass the Wests Indies by 257 runs, equalling India’s world record win over Bermuda at Port of Spain in 2007.
De Villiers was simply magnificent at the SCG, sending the South African faithful into a frenzy. Like all elite batsmen, and De Villiers is the world’s best, ranked number one, he picks the ball right from the bowler’s hand, and that’s why he’s in position well before the ball arrives.
It’s an acute ball-sense reserved for the very few like Don Bradman, Graeme Pollock, Barry Richards, Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting, to name just six.
South African cricket is grateful AB de Villiers chose the grand old game ahead of rugby, hockey, tennis and golf, where De Villiers excelled in all five sports as a teenager.
Proof enough is his all-round cricket ability as an elite batsman, medium-pace bowler, although rarely used, wicketkeeper and a brilliant fielder anywhere on the field.
His inspiration to the South Africans is priceless.
When he failed in the first two World Cup games against Zimbabwe and India, South Africa limped over the line against Zimbabwe, and were crushed by a rampant India to the tune of 150 runs.
Right then, South Africa’s World Cup hopes were looking grim, choking again to the fore. But on Saturday it was South Africa choking the daylights out of the West Indies – it wan’t a game, it was a shame.
Especially the damage done to the West Indies’ net run rate that could well determine whether they qualify for the quarters. They still have front-running India to play at the WACA, and UAE in Napier, while the South Africans have Ireland to play in Canberra, Pakistan in Auckland and UAE in Wellington.
But I still reckon the four qualifiers will be India, South Africa, Ireland and the West Indies, with Pakistan missing out. Despite that belief there’s still the importance of AB de Villiers firing with the bat to ensure South Africa win.
Otherwise it’s another form of Russian roulette.
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