AB de Villiers’ breathtaking knock of 176 off 104 balls against Bangladesh in Paarl is our Play of the Day.

South Africa’s star batsman has outdone himself again. On Wednesday at Boland Park, De Villiers smashed 176 to surpass his previous highest score of 162 not out, which was scored in 2015 against the West Indies.

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The Proteas were 90-2 after 18 overs when De Villiers arrived at the crease. Together with Hashim Amla, De Villiers lifted the tempo and steered the hosts to 255-3 after 40 overs. After reaching 100 in 68 deliveries, he began to target the boundary on the on-side.

De Villiers took 25 more balls to surpass the 150-mark. When he was on 176 with 15 legal deliveries remaining in South Africa’s innings, it seemed likely that he would eclipse Gary Kirsten’s record of 188 and become the first South African to score a double hundred in ODI cricket.

A mistimed pull to midwicket, however, put paid to those ambitions. Sabbir Rahman held the catch and De Villiers had to go.

De Villiers’ incredible knock included 15 fours and seven sixes.

Photo: Chris Ricco/Backpagepix