AB Devilliers' Top 5 ODI Innings away from home

It goes without saying that AB Devilliers is one of the most popular cricketers and the most versatile batsman of all time.

Devilliers's greatness lies in pulling off the most audacious of shots with unseen variety yet done with maintaining unimaginable consistency as the Average of 53 with a strike rate of 101 shows.

With AB Devilliers at the crease, every ball was an adventure for both himself and cricket lovers all over the world.

However, apart from the ultimate entertainer, he remained consistently great in repeatedly churning out masterclasses of different variety over his incredible career.

Here, we look at 5 of his greatest ODI innings taking into account the opposition, importance of the match and being away from home.

5. 106* vs New Zealand, Wellington, 2012

AB Devilliers magnificent innings helped SA start the series in NZ on a winning note

The first ODI of a highly anticipated 3 match ODI series between South Africa and New Zealand started off in exciting fashion with New Zealand scraping their way to 253/9.

In reply, South Africa was rocked early at 35-3 in 10 overs with big guns Amla, Smith, and Kallis all back in the hut on the back of some great bowling by Mills, Southee, and Bracewell.

ABD walked in and changed the course of the match and in hindsight perhaps the series. A breathtaking 106 of 105 balls starting with solid defence to milking the singles before finishing off with his trademark strokeplay.

It was a captain's innings of the highest order by Devilliers that was monumental in South Africa grabbing momentum at the start of the series and sustaining it till the end with a 3-0 series win.

What looked an improbable chase after 10 overs ended up being chased in a canter as only AB Devilliers could do.

4. 108 vs Sri Lanka, Hambantota, 2014

AB Devilliers was at his inventive best vs Sri Lanka in the series decider

South Africa and Sri Lanka squared off for the series decider at Hambantota with South Africa looking for its first-ever series win in the Island nation having been soundly beaten on their last 2 tours there.

South Africa got off to a great start provided by Amla and Decock with the latter going on to make an impressive century himself. However, two quick wickets brought Sri Lanka back into the match.

With the match on the knife's edge, AB Devilliers entered and produced an astonishing display of batsmanship toying the home spinners with sweeps, reverse sweeps, inside out cover drives in an exhibition of stroke play rarely seen in a match of high importance.

ABD finished up making 108 of just 71 balls at an incredible strike rate of over 150 and South Africa racked up 339 that proved to be way too much for the home team resulting in the Proteas winning their first ever ODI series in Sri Lanka.

Again, it was the captain's innings of Devilliers in the big match that made the difference and showcased yet again why he is arguably one of the greatest batsman ever.

3. 119 vs India, Mumbai, 2015

AB Devilliers delivered the knockout punch with his breathtaking innings vs India

The big day had arrived and the 2 best teams in the world containing the best batsmen in the world were set to face off in the series decider at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai with history on the line for South Africa who had never won an ODI series in India.

South Africa batted first and raced to 187-2 in 28 overs when AB Devilliers arrived with chants of "ABD ABD" from the Indian crowd which are not the norm of for an opposition batsman.

On a superb batting track, knowing a target beyond reach was required against the mighty Indian batting line-up, Devilliers went about destroying the Indian bowlers to all parts of the ground with a knock of 119 of 61 balls that included 11 6's completely justifying his 360-degree player tag.

2. 107 vs West Indies, Delhi, World cup 2011

ABD at his classical best giving South Africa the perfect start to their World cup campaign

While the fastest century and the century in the 2015 World cup vs the West Indies are more popular and celebrated this century in South Africa's first match of the 2011 World cup was a classical and elegant display in a run chase.

The South African bowlers cleaned up the West Indies for a paltry 222 on a sluggish Delhi pitch and it was expected to be an easy run chase for the Proteas.

However, with a bit of seam movement and Spin, the West Indies reduced South Africa to 20-2 with AB Devilliers walking in under pressure. While all the batsmen from both teams had great difficulty with their strokeplay, Devilliers was crisp in playing some magnificent front and back foot drives right from the start and put on an exhibition for the Delhi crowd and made a mockery of the run chase in the end.

A scintillating knock of 107 at faster than run a ball set the ball rolling for South Africa in the World cup where they eventually topped in the group stages.

1.136 vs Australia, Harare, 2014

AB Devilliers with a stunning 136 leading an improbable run chase vs the Aussies

The first SA vs AUS match of the tri-series featuring Zimbabwe as well began with Australia pummeling a mammoth 327-7.

In reply, South Africa lost two relatively early wickets when Faf Du Plessis joined AB Devilliers for a partnership for the ages with both matching each other shot for shot against a high-quality Australian attack.

While Faf eventually got out with the match still in the balance, ABD continued the mastery and finished with a stunning 136 of just 106 balls. He despatched the hapless Aussie bowling to all corners of the ground and made a chase of 327 comfortable.

It was another one of AB Devilliers's special innings when needed most by his side against the best team in the world in a huge run chase.