Twitter Reactions: AB de Villiers’ 22nd Test ton gives Proteas a substantial lead

He got in key partnerships with the tail and ensured South Africa got a lead of 139 runs.

By Ankit Mishra

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AB de Villiers
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AB de Villiers of South Africa celebrates his hundred. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

On a difficult batting surface where most others struggled. The ball was swinging and reversing. There was pressure after a middle order collapse. He was losing partners at regular intervals. The bowlers were charging in. But all that isn’t enough to bog down the champion AB de Villiers is.

He knew what the team expected from their most experienced campaigner and he proved it yet again that it is his ability to stand out when it really matters that separates him from the rest. For the most part of his knock, AB got the tailenders to work along. He was patient, waited for the right opportunities and yet imposing at the same time.

He took his chances which is just his natural style of batting and his dominance rubbed off on his partners as well. From 222/7 South Africa eventually managed to post 382 runs as the last three wickets added 160 runs together.

While the 34-year-old was the major contributor the likes of Vernon Philander and Keshav Maharaj also chipped in with 36 and 30 to help the team’s cause. With the way de Villiers was batting it seemed as if he was playing on a different surface. He was absolutely magnificent and didn’t let the good deliveries stun him enough to hamper his plans for the next.

He faced 146 balls which is quite modest from Test standards but more importantly scored 126 runs, maintaining a strike rate of 86 on a wicket where run-scoring is just getting tougher. De Villiers hit 20 boundaries and just one six during his stay and brought up his 22nd Test ton. He remained unbeaten and was eventually out of partners when Steve Smith run Lungi Ngidi out.

South Africa now have a lead of 139 runs in the first innings and it can prove decisive in the final outcome of the game. We’d seen it in the series against India and yet again lower order contributions have come to the Proteas’ aid.

Here is how Twitterati reacted to AB’s class and his ton:

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