South Africa vs. West Indies 2015, 2nd ODI: Highlights, Scorecard, Report

AB de Villiers wrote himself and South Africa into the history books with an extraordinary innings as the Proteas eased to a resounding 148-run win over the West Indies in the 2nd One-Day International at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.

Numbers alone do not tell the story, no matter how remarkable a total of 439-2 from the Proteas was.

Centuries from Hashim Amla and Rilee Roussouw set the tone, but the fastest ODI century of all time, compiled in just 31 balls, from De Villiers took the score from very good to unthinkably good.

"

Fastest 50. Fastest century. Most sixes. AB de Villiers had a very big day. pic.twitter.com/ObEZmXYp1F

— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) January 18, 2015"

The West Indies did not disgrace themselves with the bat in hand—but the truth was that once their own wrecking machine, Chris Gayle, had been dismissed for 19, there was no belief that they could run the total close.

They finished on 291-7 after 50 overs, the edge from the contest long since gone as the result became a formality.

It seems remarkable in hindsight that the West Indies invited South Africa to bat first after winning the toss, but nobody could have anticipated the home side's innings.

Batsman	Dismissal	Bowler	Runs	Mins	Balls
Amla	not out		153	235	142
Rossouw	c Benn	b Taylor	128	174	115
de Villiers	c Carter	b Russell	149	57	44
Miller	not out		0		0
Extras	1nb 4w 0b 4lb	9
Total	for 2 (50.0 ovs)	439
Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Taylor	10.0	0	95	1
Holder	9.0	0	91	0
Benn	10.0	0	49	0
Russell	10.0	0	78	1
Sammy	4.0	0	26	0
Samuels	3.0	0	28	0
Dwayne Smith	4.0	0	68	0

Roussouw's innings would ordinarily have been the talking point—128 from 115 balls was his first century at this level, and he showed the range of strokeplay and powers of concentration that suggest that he can succeed at this level.

After a career that began with several ducks and low scores, it was a timely knock before the World Cup.

Amla, his foil for a record South African ODI partnership of 247, went on. He batted through the innings, unbeaten on 153—again, on another day, it would have been the standout contribution.

Enter De Villiers. He broke record after record, beating Sanath Jayasuriya's old mark to pass 50 in just 16 deliveries.

"

16 - AB de Villiers hit 16 sixes in his 149, the joint-most in an ODI innings. Here is his wagon wheel. Smashed. pic.twitter.com/0CKK18UzCY

— OptaJim (@OptaJim) January 18, 2015"

Amazingly, he accelerated, needing just 15 more balls to bring up his ton—a full five deliveries quicker than Corey Anderson had managed for New Zealand a year ago.

South Africa's score rocketed, passing the team's record 438 in the infamous match against Australia in 2006. But with his 150 looming and the innings coming to a close, he finally holed out.

Having hit 16 maximums (a joint-record for ODI cricket) and nine boundaries in just 44 balls, his job was done—at least until he returned to the field in his wicketkeeping gear.

Batsman	Dismissal	Bowler	Runs	Mins	Balls
Dwayne Smith	c Duminy	b Behardien	64	100	65
Gayle	c Behardien	b M Morkel	19	24	13
Johnson	lbw	b Philander	1	23	15
Samuels	c Behardien	b Philander	40	66	48
Ramdin	c du Plessis	b M Morkel	57	90	55
Carter	c Sub	b Steyn	40	54	39
Russell	c du Plessis	b Tahir	0		1
Sammy	not out		25	48	41
Holder	not out		21	32	25
Extras	2nb 10w 8b 4lb	24
Total	for 7 (50.0 ovs)	291
Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
M Morkel	10.0	0	43	2
Philander	10.0	0	69	2
Steyn	10.0	0	29	1
Duminy	4.0	0	39	0
Tahir	10.0	0	60	1
Behardien	6.0	0	39	1

There was no meek surrender from the West Indies—just an innings which effectively conceded that they could not compete with their hosts.

Gayle's wicket meant their wild card was removed from the equation early, but Dwayne Smith (65 from 64 balls) and Denesh Ramdin (57 from 55) gave the scorecard a veneer of respectability.

On another day, a total pushing 300 might have won a game, or at least ensured a close finish. This did neither.