SOUTH African AB de Villiers hit 133 not out, to set a new Indian Premier League record for the highest score by a non-opening batsman. de Villiers, 31, hit 19 fours and four sixes in his 59-ball innings as Royal Challengers Bangalore made 235-1 and beat Mumbai Indians by 39 runs.
The second-wicket partnership of 215 between de Villiers and Virat Kohli, who made 82 not out, was also a record.
“I have played much better before but things went my way today,” he said.
In the 2015 World Cup, de Villiers made the fastest one-day international 150. He took 64 deliveries to reach that milestone, finishing on 162 not out from 66 balls as South Africa thrashed West Indies by 257 runs.
de Villiers also holds the record for the fastest ODI hundred, taking only 31 balls to reach his century against West Indies in January.
The South Africa batsman told ipl20.com: “I have played the game for 11 years now at the international level. I know my game pretty well and that is the secret to success in most sports. I feel the same every single time I play. I just try and earn my right to get on top of the bowlers and that is how I play every game.”
de Villiers plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore alongside West Indies batsman Chris Gayle, who scored the fastest ODI 200, against Zimbabwe during the World Cup.
Gayle also holds the IPL record with the 175 not out he scored against Pune Warriors in April 2013.
Andrew Symonds’ unbeaten 117, for Deccan Chargers against Royals Hyderabad in 2008 – the IPL’s first season, was the best by a non-opener before de Villiers. (BBC Sport)