Johannesburg: AB de Villiers struck the fastest century in one-day international history as South Africa posted a record 439-2 against the West Indies in the second ODI at the Wanderers on Sunday.
De Villiers reached three figures in just 31 balls, beating the 36 required by New Zealand's Corey Anderson in a match against West Indies in January 2014, before falling in the final over for 149 in 44 balls.
The feat overshadowed a career-best knock from Hashim Amla, who batted through the innings to finish unbeaten on 153, and shared in a record 247-run stand for the first wicket with Rilee Rossouw, who made 128.
South Africa's score beat its previous highest total of 438-9 against Australia in 2006, but fell four runs short of the overall record - Sri Lanka's 443-9 against the Netherlands.
It was the first time that three batsmen had scored a century in the same innings of an ODI, and ensured that the assault on the West Indies bowlers was relentless after the tourists had won the toss and elected to field first.
Although Amla and Rossouw got off to a steady but unspectacular start as they scored at five runs to the over in the first 20, they increased the tempo from that point and South Africa never looked back.
Rossouw reached his maiden ODI century in his 11th match, and his partnership with Amla bettered the 235 scored by Gary Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs for the first wicket against India in 2000.
The real fireworks started after Rossouw was dismissed and De Villiers came to the wicket, as the South African captain put on a century stand with Amla in just 34 balls.
De Villiers' innings included the fastest fifty in ODIs, taking just 16 deliveries, and his final tally of 16 sixes equalled the record that Rohit Sharma had set during his 209 against Australia in Bangalore.
