The de Villers record that almost wasn't

The world’s fastest one-day international century might never have happened if the record-breaker himself, South Africa captain AB de Villiers, had his own way.

De Villiers plundered the 50-over format’s fastest ton from only 31 balls against the West Indies at the Wanderers in January 2015.

The right-hander entered the fray at 1-247 halfway through the 39th over. Ten overs later he left the field to a standing ovation with a remarkable 149 runs from just 44 balls next to his name.

South Africa posted 2-439, restricted the Windies to 7-291 and won the match by 148 runs. 

Recounting the stunning knock, which included 16 sixes and nine fours, de Villiers says Proteas coach Russell Domingo rejected his idea to promote teammate David Miller ahead of him at the fall of the first wicket.

The hosts were motoring along at more than six runs per over as the final 10 overs approached, with both openers Hashim Amla and Rilee Rossouw having reached triple-figures.

De Villiers, as skipper, pleaded with his coach, twice, to let hard-hitting Miller go in next. 

As it turns out, it was a history-making denial by Domingo.

"In the changing room, as our score passes 200 without loss, I approach Russell Domingo, our coach," De Villiers wrote in AB: The Autobiography.

"'Let Dave Miller go in next, coach,' I say. 'This is perfect for him.'

"'No Abbas, you're next,' he replies, firmly.

"That doesn't make sense. Sulieman Benn still has two overs to bowl and, if somebody gets out, Miller should go in and have a full go at the left-arm spinner who typically turns the ball in to the left-hander.

"The situation is made for him. We're 1-0 up in the five-match series, and we're expected to win, but we need to take every opportunity.

"(Hashim) Amla and (Rilee) Rossouw are still going well, dominating, taking the score past 220. It's worth another try.

"'Coach, I'm serious, Dave should go in next.'

"'No, you're the best man for this situation.' 

"The scoreboard keeps moving as Hash strokes another boundary through extra cover.

"I'm sitting on the physiotherapy bed in our dressing room. Dale Steyn, Faf du Plessis and Farhaan Behardien are around, and we're enjoying the buzz of another 'pink' Sunday at the Wanderers, the annual ODI when the Proteas and most of spectators dress in pink to raise funds for awareness and the fight against breast cancer.

"I'm nervous. This is my 177th one-day international but I feel as anxious as I did in my first.

"'It will never change,' I say out loud, to nobody in particular.

"'What?' Faf asks.

"'The nerves - I always get nervous before I bat.'

"As I speak, Rilee is caught in the deep, out for 128. Our score is 247 for one. I'm up next. I grab my bat and made my way down the stairs. As I do, I trip and stumble. Faf and Dale burst out laughing." 

While his teammates were chuckling at the site of de Villiers stumbling out to the middle, the Windies were not laughing seeing one of the world’s best batsman stride to crease.

De Villiers struck the first ball he faced for four – a slower ball from paceman Jerome Taylor smacked straight down the ground.

A quintet of thumping blows from the then 29-year-old followed next, culminating in his third six off the second ball of the 41st over.

A hat-trick of sixes saw him move past 50 in record pace, reaching the milestone in just 16 balls to eclipse Sanath Jayasuriya’s 17-ball mark set 19 years earlier.

His third streak of five successive boundaries included a further four maximums – the third a slog sweep over mid-wicket off opposing captain Jason Holder to smash the world record for the fastest ODI century and send the Wanderers crowd into a frenzy.

If the Windies thought the carnage was over they were wrong. De Villiers blasted another five sixes to take his tally of maximums to a sweet 16 and equal the ODI record set by Rohit Sharma in his 203 against Australia in 2013.

De Villiers fell searching for the record-breaking 17th six, caught at deep cover with two balls remaining in the innings to end perhaps the greatest display of hitting ever seen at international level.