Proteas captain smashes record, while Hashim Amla looks set to become the fastest batsman to 6000 runs
De Villiers fastest to 8000 runs
South Africa superstar AB de Villiers has smashed the record for fastest batsman to reach 8000 ODI runs with his fifty against New Zealand in Durban.
De Villiers, who recorded the format’s fastest century off 31 balls in January, reached the mark in his 182nd innings, 18 innings faster than that of the previous record holder, India’s Sourav Ganguly.
The Proteas captain now – who is the No.1 ranked ODI batsman in the world – was also the fastest to 7000 runs, and now has 8045 runs from 190 one-day games.
.@ABdeVilliers17, fastest man to 8000 ODI runs by the proverbial country mile. Well played, mate. Pic: @PhotosportNZ pic.twitter.com/34xIJyypm6
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) August 26, 2015
His other notable records include the fastest ODI fifty and 150.
De Villiers’ 64 off 48 balls led the Proteas to victory against the Black Caps, ending what had been an uncharacteristically lean run for the star. Since returning from paternity leave, de Villiers had posted a top score of 40 from four Twenty20s and two ODIs.
Meanwhile, his South Africa teammate Hashim Amla is poised to become the fastest ever batsman to 6000 ODI runs.
Amla, who was dismissed for 44 in the third New Zealand ODI, needs another 81 runs to reach the mark.
Image Id: ~/media/958B55DA1A0E486480169E200FB6FCA4
Hashim Amla has an excellent record // Getty Images
He has 118 ODI innings to his name, while the currently holder of the record – India captain Virat Kohli – got there in 136 innings.
Amla would only need to average five for his next 17 innings to claim the record.
Fewest innings to 8000 runs
182 - AB de Villiers
200 - Sourav Ganguly
210 - Sachin Tendulkar
211 - Brian Lara
214 - MS Dhoni