Summary De Villiers reached the landmark with a six off West Indies skipper Jason Holder.
SYDNEY (AFP) - South Africa captain AB de Villiers smashed the second fastest World Cup century off 52 balls in the Pool B game against the West Indies at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.
De Villiers finished on an unbeaten 162 off just 66 balls as South Africa raced to the second highest World Cup total, behind only the 413-5 made by India against Bermuda, a non-Test nation, in Trinidad in 2007.
De Villiers destroyed the West Indians with eight sixes and 17 fours and was particularly savage on his counterpart Jason Holder, clouting four sixes off the pace bowler s final over.
The fastest ever World Cup century was made by Ireland s Kevin O Brien, off 50 balls, against England in Bangalore during the 2011 tournament.
De Villiers, who made his century off 52 balls, teed off in the final overs, plundering 34 off Holder s penultimate over -- two sixes, three fours and a two-- and then 30 off his last over. Holder finished with 1-104 off 10 overs.
Apart from the spectacular de Villiers show it was a solid supporting effort from the South African top order with Hashim Amla contributing 65 off 88 balls, Faf du Plesssis 62 off 70 and Rilee Rossouw slamming 61 off 39 balls.
The Proteas, who have yet to win a World Cup, put behind them their disappointing last start 130-run loss to defending champions India.
