Remembering the innings – AB de Villiers’ record-breaking knock

Scoring 9,500-plus ODI runs at an average of 53.50 while batting in the lower middle order is, no doubt, work of a genius. AB de Villiers struck as many as 25 centuries, of which 21 were scored in the batting positions from 4 to 6. And while we remember his devastating knocks, we tend to forget his last ODI century which was a record-breaking one.

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On 18th October 2017, at Boland Park, Paarl, South Africa and Bangladesh squared off for the second of three-match ODI series. Batting first, Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock provided a solid start as the Proteas reached 90/0 in the 18th over. Bangladesh struck double blows, bringing AB de Villiers to the crease.

AB de Villiers blasted a career-best 176 to set up a series-clinching 104-run win for South Africa in the second ODI against Bangladesh. pic.twitter.com/vCfYpp9nwJ

— SuperSport ? (@SuperSportTV) October 19, 2017

De Villiers increased the tempo of the innings and soon reached his fifty in just 34 balls. Maintaining the same, he notched his 25th ODI century in 68 balls. In the death overs, ABD hit top gear and started smashing boundaries all around the park. He was eventually dismissed for 176 in 104 balls with 15 fours and 7 sixes. South Africa posted 353/6 on the board, which culminated in a 104-run victory.

This knock of 176 included ABD’s 200th six in ODI cricket, making him the first South African batsman to do so. He also became the seventh batsmen to score 25 or more ODI centuries and the second from South Africa after Hashim Amla to achieve this feat.