The cricketing world once again started questioning whether Abraham Benjamin De Villiers is a human from this earth after his out of the world knock of 149 in 44 balls against West Indies, decorated the 3rd week of January and altered the world records.
AB De Villiers massacre West Indies with the fastest ODI century
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South African captain AB de Villiers hit the fastest century in ODIs on 18th January against the West Indies in Johannesburg.
The 30-year-old needed just 31 balls to reach 100, five balls fewer than Corey Anderson’s hundred for New Zealand against the West Indies in 2013/14. De Villiers made 149 off 44 balls. His innings included 16 sixes, which equaled the record set by Rohit Sharma on the way to a score of 209 for India against Australia in Bangalore in 2013/14. It was an astonishing display of power hitting mixed with finesse. Hashim Amla (153 not out) and Rilee Rossouw (128) put on 247 for the first wicket.
AB went to fifty off 16 balls, one fewer than Sanath Jayasuriya’s previous record for the fastest half-century, for Sri Lanka against Pakistan in 1995/96, then powered his way past Anderson’s record. South Africa went past their own previous highest total – 438 for 9 they scored in a record run chase against Australia on the same ground in 8 years ago.
David Warner ton outclasses Eoin Morgan ton
Australian opener David Warner led his team to an emphatic 3-wicket win over England in the opening ODI of the Carlton-Mid Triangular Series game played at Sydney on 16th Friday.
The powerful left-hander’s commanding century cancelled out a long overdue ton by England skipper Eoin Morgan to help the Australians earn a bonus point for reaching the target inside 40 overs. Morgan’s lone hand of 121 off 136 balls with 11 fours and three sixes enabled England to recover from a disastrous start to make 234 in 47.5 overs. Warner then made 127, breaking his own drought with his first one-day international ton since back-to-back hundreds against Sri Lanka in 2012, as Australia cruised to the victory target with 61 balls to spare, finishing on 235 for seven from 39.5 overs.
Mitchell Starc and Aaron Finch pin down India
Australia defeated India by four wickets in their tri-series match after Mitchell Starc took six wickets and Aaron Finch hit 96 in Melbourne on 18th January.
For India, Rohit Sharma made 138, batting for 49 overs and adding 126 with Suresh Raina, to steer India to 267 for 8 in 50 overs. Mitchell Starc took a career-best six for 43 to limit India and Australia’s innings then developed as Finch opened and played the anchor, sharing a 101-run third-wicket partnership with Steve Smith that carried Australia to within sight of victory. Finch and Smith were out within three balls of each other around the 40th over and Australia lost two more wickets before they reached their target with six balls to spare.
James Anderson and Steven Finn leads England’s biggest victory over India
England thrashed India by 9 wickets in match 3 of the ODI tri-series at the Gabba on 20th January to record their biggest ODI victory over India.
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Electing to bat, India was bundled out for 153 in 39.3 overs on a lively surface in Brisbane. Steven Finn (5/33) and his pace colleague James Anderson (4/18) exploited the pacer-friendly deck to the hilt by extracting extra bounce as the Indians struggled to come to terms. Opener Ian Bell led the England run chase with a 91-ball unbeaten 88 while James Taylor also scored an unbeaten half century to take their side home.
Dilshan century edges out scrappy Black Caps
TM Dilshan smashed his 19th ODI ton to help Sri Lanka secure a comfortable six-wicket win over New Zealand and level the series 1-1 in at Hamilton on 15th January.
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All-round brilliant Dilshan’s exquisite ton outclassed McCullum’s powering century as Sri Lanka finally played to their strengths and manufactured a victory during this tour on New Zealand soil. Four run-outs stifled New Zealand innings to 248 after McCullum bashed 117. Sri Lanka batting unit easily saw through the target in a well-calculated chase led by Dilshan’s 116.
Junaid Khan to miss New Zealand ODIs due to injury
A thigh injury has ruled out Pakistan fast bowler Junaid Khan from the two looming one-day clashes with the Black Caps and placed a question mark over his World Cup participation. Pakistan authorities have confirmed left-arm quick Junaid would be replaced by Bilawai Bhatti for the clashes in New Zealand on January 31 and February 3.
Proteas record third straight win against Windies
South Africa dominated West Indies again in East London as they took an unassailable 3-0 lead in their five-match one-day international series beating the visitors by 9 wickets in another one-sided game on 21st of January.
Marlon Samuels top scored with 26 as they were bowled out for 122 in 33.4 overs, spinner Imran Tahir taking 4 for 28. Opener Hashim Amla (61 not out) and Faf du Plessis (51 not out) sealed a nine-wicket win with 25.2 overs to spare.
