AB de Villiers retires: Top 5 de Villiers knocks in Test cricket

#1 106* vs Australia, Perth (2008)

de Villiers managed to pull off a magnificent chase

Chasing a target in the fourth innings of a Test match is never easy. The pitch is probably at its worst but there have been players who’ve stood up in critical situations and played some magnificent knocks. One such knock was played by AB de Villiers.

After Australia scored 375 batting first, South Africa could manage only 281 in their first innings. AB de Villiers was the joint top-scorer with 63 in that innings. Australia then built on the lead and set South Africa a daunting target of 414. If the Proteas had to get those, they had to create history as only once had a target of more than 414 been chased before.

In reply, South Africa got a good start as Graeme Smith struck a very good hundred. Hashim Amla contributed with a good half-century as well. But the two batsmen were dismissed in the span of just 3 overs and it left South Africa at 179/3. At that stage, 414 looked a little too much despite the start they had got.

But AB de Villiers batted like a champion as he took South Africa home in what was a memorable run-chase. He scored a magnificent unbeaten 106 as he shared two crucial stands with Jacques Kallis (124 for the fourth wicket) and with JP Duminy (unbroken 111 for the fifth wicket). Kallis and Duminy contributed with fifties but it was de Villiers who was the mainstay. He batted and frustrated the Aussie bowlers and eventually took South Africa to a record run-chase.