AB de Villiers scores fastest-ever one-day international century ahead of Cricket World Cup

The South African batsman took just 31 deliveries against the West Indies to reach his ton

AB de Villiers (GETTY IMAGES)

South Africa batsman AB de Villiers has scored the fastest-ever one-day international century during South Africa's run-laden innings against the West Indies on Sunday.

The number three needed 31 deliveries to reach the milestone in the second ODI in Johannesburg, five fewer than previous record holder Corey Anderson, who needed 36 balls to reach the milestone against the West Indies last year.

De Villiers had earlier broken Sanath Jayasuriya's 19-year record for the fastest ODI fifty, taking a mere 16 deliveries to achieve the feat by launching Jason Holder over the long-off boundary.

He needed a further 15 balls to break Anderson's year-old fastest ODI century record - smashing 10 sixes and eight fours in doing so.

Any West Indian hopes that De Villiers would subsequently relax were soon dismissed as he and Hashim Amla continued to pepper the New Wanderers Stadium boundary on regular occasion.

De Villiers soon set his sights on breaking another record - the most sixes in an individual ODI innings - and equalled the record Rahul Sharma set in 2013 against Australia when he smashed his 16th maximum on the penultimate ball of the penultimate over.

The wicketkeeper-batsman could not score another to make the record his own, however, when he went for another huge hit off Andre Russell and was caught at deep extra cover with two balls left having scored 149 from 44 balls.

The Proteas ended their innings on 439 for two, four runs shy of the highest ever ODI score by a team - set by Sri Lanka in 2006 against the Netherlands.

Earlier, South Africa openers Amla and Rilee Rossouw scored centuries as they made 247 in just over 38 overs for the first wicket.

Rossouw made 128 from 115 balls before he was caught at mid-off to give Taylor a wicket, while Amla finished unbeaten on 153 from 142 deliveries.

PA