It's great to be back: De Villiers
When Shakib Al Hasan trapped Quinton de Kock in front yesterday in the third ball of the 18th over of South Africa's innings, and followed it up with the wicket of Faf du Plessis in the same over, it seemed as if Bangladesh were finally changing the script of a woeful bowling display so far on tour. But then, in strode AB de Villiers, for whom this was the first innings after he took time out since giving up the captaincy in the wake of a Champions Trophy exit in June. And it was like he never was away as he pounded a furious, career-high score of 176 off just 104 deliveries.
“It's great to be back. A huge privilege,” he said after the match ended in a 104-run win and consequently a series win for South Africa with a match in hand. “The last few months I've been working very hard on my game and all I wanted was to get back in the side. I was quite nervous starting off. It felt like my first game again. It was important to get a partnership going.”
He got two of those going, and dominated both, scoring 86 of the 136 runs put on for the third wicket with Hashim Amla, who was caught behind off Rubel Hossain for 85 in the 36th over, and then scored 90 of the 117 runs added for the fourth wicket with JP Duminy -- a partnership that needed just 70 deliveries.
“It took me an over or so to remember that I had a good net in Kimberley and I am in good form. I had to remind myself that I am hitting the ball well. Having not been with the team the last few months I was extra nervous. It was great to be out there with Hash, he always has a calming effect. I'm hitting the ball as well as ever, and I could feel that. It was just a matter of making sure I spent a bit of time out there and then some of the boundaries started flowing and I got momentum on my side.”
He also seemed to end months of speculation about his Test future. “If selected, I am there. I can't except that I am going to be in the squad, I have been out of the squad and guys that have come in have done well. You don't just walk into the Test team. I am going to work my way back. I am prepared to do the hard work.”
Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza said that they might have come out with a win had De Villiers gotten out. The man himself responded with a vote of confidence in his teammates.
“I won't say if I didn't play that knock that we would have lost the game. If I didn't play that knock someone else would have done so.”
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