Arguably the best batsmen in the shorter formats of the game at the moment, AB de Villiers recently reached a milestone that not many can boast in the South African National team.
The 32-year old skipper of the national team played his 200th One Day International (205 counting 5 for Africa XI) in the tri-series with Australia and West Indies in the Caribbean.
However, it was not an affair to remember like his 100th test where the match had to be abandoned due to rain after just an over being bowled.
The Kensington Oval allowed just an over to be bowled in the game between Australia and South Africa leaving the tri-series closely poised with just 2 matches to be played before the final.
De Villiers, however, was unfazed by his milestone and explained that he does not read too much into the numbers.
“Normally I’m not too fussed about these kinds of milestones,” he admitted after the match.
“Yes it’s a nice milestone, it’s a way to wake up and look back at how lucky I have been over my career to play so many games and to be around for so long,” he added.
Me 360 as he is called adorably by his fans is currently the no.1 ranked batsman in ODI cricket and his happiness to have reached such a milestone with the South African national team.
“It is a great privilege and honor to represent this country and to have played for so long. I am fortunate to be in this position and hopefully, there will be a few more to enjoy and a few more victories as well,” he added.
However, the skipper and his team have a lot of work to do to move into the final of the tri-series as they are now faced with a must-win situation in the last game against West Indies.
They will need Australia to beat the hosts if they are to have an easy passage into the final later this month and De Villiers felt that the wash-out at Kensington Oval may have a huge say in deciding the two teams that will play in the final.
“It was not the ideal situation for either of the teams,” De Villiers said of the washout.
“We both wanted to play a good game of cricket today but unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way,” he felt.
He also went on to say that playing in a must-win game gets the best out of his team and that they have enjoyed such pressure in the past.
He said, “In our last series against England we were 2-0 down with three to play and we won all three.”
“We have been in this situation before, we enjoy these kind of situations, we like to bring the fight when it matters most. It’s a great opportunity for us to prove that we are that kind of team under pressure, I am looking forward to it,” he added.
West Indies face Australia in the 21st of June and then face South Africa on the 24th of June. Don’t miss out on the action as it promises to be a closely fought series that might go right down to the wire.