/ 21 November 2010

De Villiers posts South Africa’s highest score

AB de Villiers scored 278 not out on Sunday to become South Africa’s highest individual scorer in a Test match on the second day of the second Test against Pakistan.

De Villiers’s magnificent effort came as South Africa declared their first innings closed on 584 for nine, with captain Graeme Smith allowing De Villiers to go clear of his own record score of 277 against England in Birmingham in 2003.

De Villiers batted for more than 11 hours, facing 418 balls and hitting 23 fours and six sixes.

The 26-year-old had come to the crease on the first day with the score a parlous 33 for three and batted with impressive control and composure before breaking loose at the end of his innings as he and last man Morne Morkel added 107 off 82 balls, a record 10th-wicket stand for South Africa in all Tests.

De Villiers, who survived loud appeals for caught behind and lbw on the first day, had a previous best score against India of 217 not out in Ahmedabad in 2007/08.

De Villiers captured the record with a single through midwicket off seamer Umar Gul in the second over after the tea break. – Reuters