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 at Boland Park on Wednesday.
South Africa posted an imposing 353 for six after being sent in to bat, while Bangladesh made a spirited start to its response before being bowled out for 249.
de Villiers raced to his 25th century off 68 balls with ten fours and a six. He added another five fours and six sixes off the next 36 deliveries in a display of dazzling footwork, precise placement and some audacious strokes, particularly after he reached his century.
Even so, de Villiers said he felt ‘quite nervous’ at the start of his first international innings in four months. But he said batting partner Hashim Amla was a calming influence as he embarked on a sensational 104-ball innings which included 15 fours and seven sixes.
The ease with which de Villiers found the boundary was in complete contrast to his teammates, who managed to hit only five fours and a six between them, struggling to time the ball as it rose slowly off the surface, while the outfield was unusually slow after three days of rain. de Villiers dominated stands of 136 off 111 balls for the third wicket with Hashim Amla (85) and 111 off 70 balls for the fourth wicket with J-P. Duminy (30).
Rubel Hossain took three wickets in his last two overs to finish with four for 62.
Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes put on 44 off 46 balls for Bangladesh’s first wicket, with Kayes going on to make 68 off 77 balls. Mushfiqur Rahim followed up his century in the first match with 60 off 70 balls. Kayes was third out with the total on 162 in the 29th over and the innings lost momentum.
