Cape Town: We know AB de Villiers as the batsman who holds the record for the fastest 50, 100 and 150 in ODI cricket but little did we know that the former South Africa captain avoided getting seriously hurt before slamming a 31-ball hundred against West Indies in 2015.
De Villiers’ good friend Dale Steyn recently revealed a very funny incident which happened during Pink ODI between South Africa and West Indies at the Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg two years ago.
Just before coming out to a hundred in 31 balls, De Villiers fell down the stairs outside the dressing room and in Steyn’s own words “almost saw his arse on the first step.”
“I remember him (de Villiers) urging Russell Domingo [then South Africa’s coach] to send David Miller in because he felt Miller could clear the ropes. Russell said, “No, you go”, to AB. He was reluctant, but eventually said “fine” and rushed out of the change room.
“There are a couple of stairs as you step out of the change room at the Wanderers. As he ran out, he almost saw his arse on the first step. It is not on TV. When he came out to the ground he looked cool and composed, but he had almost fallen flat on his face,” Steyn was quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
De Villiers smashed 149 from a mere 44 balls in that match which included a mind-boggling 16 sixes, a joint record in ODIs held by him and Rohit Sharma.
He had a strike rate of over 338 by the time he was finished ripping apart West Indies’ bowling attack. During the knock De Villiers also set the record for the fastest half-century by reaching the mark in just 16 balls.
Openers Hashim Amla (153) and Rilee Rossouw (128) had entertained the Wanderers crowd before Mr. 360 came in and blew away the opposition. South Africa bettered its own world record of the highest score in an innings by posting 439 for 2 in 50 overs thanks to the three centurions and then restricted the Windies to 291 for 7 to win the match by a whopping 148 runs. The Proteas eventually ended up winning the 5-match series 4-1.
