'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
23rd May was a really sad day for South African cricket as AB de Villiers decided to call it a day on his international career.
Making his international debut in 2004, ABD went on to score 20014 runs in international cricket that included 109 fifties, 47 centuries and 39 Man of the Match awards which is the second most for any South African and 13th most overall.
de Villiers is the second highest run-scorer for South Africa in T20 cricket with 1672 runs that include 10 fifties. The former Proteas skipper has produced a number of phenomenal knocks for his team throughout his 12-year long T20I career.
Here are the best five among those knocks.
#5 30 vs Sri Lanka at Hambantota - 2012
It was the final match of Group C of the 2012 ICC World Twenty20. South Africa were up against hosts Sri Lanka at Hambantota, with both teams already through to the Super 8s.
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field first. However, the start of the match was delayed due to rain.
By the match was in a position to be played, plenty of overs was lost. So, the match was limited to 7 overs a side.
de Villiers came in to bat when the Proteas were 27/2 in 3 overs. With 4 overs to go, ABD batted steadily and also smashed a couple of sixes. He elevated the scoring rate of South Africa and went on to score 30 from 13 deliveries before being dismissed. The Proteas' final score was 78/4 in 7 overs.
Sri Lanka could only score 46/5 in their 7 overs and South Africa won the group. de Villiers was eventually adjudged the Man of the Match.
#4 64 vs Afghanistan - 2016
South Africa began their campaign at the 2016 World T20 with a defeat against England at Mumbai. Their next match was at the same venue and they were up against Afghanistan.
South Africa were in a good position thanks to some fine batting by Quinton de Kock and Faf du Plessis.
ABD came in to bat during the 12th over and began to smash the Afghan bowlers all across the Wankhede. He batted wonderfully and added 76 runs for the 4th wicket with JP Duminy.
de Villiers scored 64 from 29 deliveries before being dismissed by Mohammad Nabi. The Proteas posted 209 on the board and went on to win the match by 37 runs.
Even though ABD wasn't adjudged the Man of the Match, his innings was a key factor in South Africa's win.
#3 79 vs Scotland at London - 2009
South Africa's first match of the 2009 World T20 was against Scotland at the Kennington Oval in London. South Africa were already in a strong position when AB de Villiers came in to bat.
de Villiers began to smash fours and sixes of the Scottish bowlers and there was simply no stopping him at the moment. South Africa crossed 200 and ended their innings at 211/5 which would go on to be the highest score of the tournament.
de Villiers remained unbeaten at 79 from just 34 balls, hitting 5 fours and 6 sixes. This was and still remains to be his highest T20I score.
In reply, Scotland were skittled out for 81, the lowest score of the tournament and were eliminated from the tournament (they had previously been defeated by New Zealand).
de Villiers was adjudged the Man of the Match for his superb knock.
#2 71 vs England at Johannesburg - 2016
It was the final match of England's Tour of South Africa in 2015-16. England won the Test series 2-1, South Africa won the ODI series 3-2 and were leading 1-0 in the T20I series.
The second and final T20I was held at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. England batted first and posted 171 on the board thanks to Jos Buttler's 54 and some brisk innings from skipper Eoin Morgan and Joe Root.
In reply, openers AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla gave South Africa a flying start. de Villiers was clearly the relative aggressor as he was smashing fours and sixes to the dismay of the England players.
ABD literally owned the leg side. Deep square leg, midwicket, mid on, scores of runs came in those areas.
de Villiers was dismissed in the 9th over but by that time, he scored 71 from 29 balls and South Africa were just 47 runs short of the target.
The Proteas eventually won the match with 5.2 overs to spare. Unsurprisingly, de Villiers was adjudged the Man of the Match.
#1 69 vs England at Chittagong, 2014
South Africa's final Super 10 game of the 2014 World T20 was against England. The Proteas needed a win to confirm their place in the semi-finals while England needed a win to stay alive in the competition.
Chittagong was the venue for the match and England won the toss, putting South Africa to bat first.
The Proteas were off to a good start thanks to Hashim Amla's 56. DeVilliers came in to bat following Amla's dismissal. South Africa's run rate was just above 8 when ABD came in to bat.
However, de Villiers played some wonderful shots to elevate the team's run rate and mesmerize the spectators. Mr.360 was dealing mainly in boundaries and a good number of them came through the point region. He did smash three magnificent sixes- one straight down the ground, one over long on and one over midwicket.
de Villiers remained unbeaten on 69 from 28 deliveries and South Africa's score was 196/5.
England put up a strong fight but fell three runs short of the total. South Africa were through to the semis and England were out.
de Villiers was adjudged the Man of the Match for his effort.
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download Cric Rocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more!
