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Skipper A B de Villiers hammered the fastest 150 in ODI history to lead South Africa to a record-equalling 257-run win over the West Indies in a Pool B World Cup match, in Sydney, on Friday.
Swashbuckling AB de Villiers rewrites record books
De Villiers smashes 162 as South Africa crush Windies
Thanks to his sensational 66-ball 162, South Africa posted the World Cup's second-highest total of 408 for five and then inflicted further humiliation on the Caribbean side by dismissing them for a measly 151 in 33.1 overs.
Leg-spinner Imran Tahir returned career-best figures of five for 45 to add insult to the West Indies injury.
Now India and South Africa jointly hold the record for victory with highest margin in World Cup history. India, the defending champions, had humbled Bermuda by 257 runs in the 2007 edition.
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South Africa moved to second spot in the points table, while the West Indies are placed fourth.
The 31-year-old de Villiers, who holds the record of fastest ODI hundred from just 31 balls, notched the second quickest century in any World Cup with his 52-ball ton, missing the record by just two balls.
Kevin O'Brien had hit the fastest century from 50 balls against England in the 2011 edition.
Electing to bat, South Africa made a cautious but solid start, with Hashim Amla (65) and Faf du Plessis (62) scoring sedate half centuries before the swashbuckling de Villiers took over to treat the capacity Sydney Cricket Ground crowd with an unbelievable show of boundary hitting for a career-best knock.
He punished the Caribbean bowlers with 17 fours and eight sixes in his sensational unbeaten innings after coming at the fall of Amla's wicket in the 30th over.
The team's total at that time was 146 for three.
The 25-year-old World Cup debutant Rilee Rossouw also made a strokeful 39-ball 61, studded with six fours and a six, and he competed in boundary hitting with his captain for a while before being the fourth man out. He shared 134 runs with de Villiers for the fourth wicket from just 12.3 overs.
South Africa scored 150 runs from the final 10 overs to score the second highest total in any World Cup match behind India's 413 for five against Bermuda in Port-of-Spain in 2007.
West Indies needed Chris Gayle to fire while chasing such a mammoth total, but the big-hitting left-hander managed only three runs and the Caribbean side buckled under pressure.
Skipper Jason Holder top-scored for them with a 56-run knock batting at number nine while opener Dwayne Smith managed 31 as only four Caribbean batsmen got into double-digit scores.