De Villiers shows stomach for record-breaking

SYDNEY: South Africa captain AB de Villiers was laid low by illness which gave him a sleepless night before he found the perfect cure by hitting a breathtaking 162 not out in Friday´s 257-run World Cup rout of the West Indies.

De Villiers made his runs off just 66 balls as South Africa raced to the second-highest World Cup total of 408 for five, behind only the 413 for five made by India against makeweights Bermuda in Trinidad in 2007.

It was the fastest 150 in one-day internationals and de Villiers now has the fastest fifty, hundred and 150 in ODI cricket -- all coming against West Indies.

De Villiers´ century came off 52 balls, just shy of the World Cup fastest ton hit by Ireland´s Kevin O´Brien off 50 deliveries against England in Bangalore in 2011.

"I had some stomach problems last night, I didn´t eat much and had a very rough night.

But the doctor gave me an injection and I was on my way," said de Villiers as his team recovered in emphatic style from their 130-run loss to India in Melbourne last time out.

Friday´s result was the record-equalling heaviest defeat at the World Cup alongside India´s 257-run win over Bermuda.

De Villiers demolished the West Indians with eight sixes and 17 fours and was particularly savage on his counterpart Jason Holder, clouting four sixes off the pace bowler´s final over.

South Africa moved into second place in Pool B behind India on run-rate while West Indies are fourth, also on four points but behind Ireland after their net run-rate took a battering at the SCG.

De Villiers, who also pummelled the Windies with the fastest one-day century off 31 balls in Johannesburg in January, praised the fighting spirit of his team for the way they bounced back from their abject display against defending champions India.

"I had a nice chat to the guys before this game and I really felt they were motivated to play some good cricket," de Villiers said. (AFP)