Image Credit- ESPN CricInfo
Venue- New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg [January, 2015].
The West Indies toured South Africa in December- January of 2014-15. The visitors were able to win the T20 series, whereas the hosts won the test series. Now all eyes were set on the ODI series. The Proteas won the first game comfortably at Durban and the action now shifted to Johannesburg. On a bright sunny day the South African Captain AB de Villiers won the toss and elected to bat first.
The decision proved right as the South African openers blew the Windies bowling line up. The opening duo stitched a massive 247 runs opening stand. It was finally in the 39th over of the game when Jerome Taylor got the first wicket of the match as Rilee Rossouw was dismissed for 128 runs.
The Captain was now on the crease. And what he did next, no cricket fan can ever forget. ABD scored 149 runs in just 44 deliveries. It is interesting to note that while doing so he broke the record of both fastest international fifty (16 Balls) and fastest international hundred (30 Balls). Furthermore his innings consisted of 9 boundaries and 16 sixes. He scored in all parts of the ground and no West Indian bowler was spared. By the time, Andre Russell got his wicket, the South African scorecard read 439/2.
The crowd were just shouting ABD. After all they witnessed something unbelievable.
[Postscript- The Windies were never in the chase as they managed to score 291 runs in their respective 50 overs. The Proteas won the game by 148 runs and took a 2-0 lead in the series. The Captain AB de Villiers was awarded the Man of the Match Award for his excellent knock.]
To watch the innings of ABD, Click Here.
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