South Africa’s De Villiers torments Pakistan

De Villiers, who came to the crease on the first day with South Africa on a parlous 33 for three, was on 263 not out after he and Morne Morkel launched an angry assault on the bowlers in an unbeaten 10^th-wicket stand of 91 in 11.4 overs.

De Villiers’s magnificent knock came off 411 balls and included 22 fours and five sixes. The 26-year-old, who had a reputation for impetuous strokeplay in his youth, batted with composure and maturity, before tearing into the bowling in the hour before tea.

The runs also flowed from last man Morkel’s bat, with the tall left-hander stroking five fours in his 34 not out off 35 balls.

South Africa had begun the second day on 311 for five and De Villiers showed excellent management of the lower order as he also shared stands of 73 with Mark Boucher (45), 42 with Johan Botha (12), 59 with Dale Steyn (27) and 35 with Paul Harris (19).

De Villiers was 14 runs away from captain Graeme Smith’s South African record individual score of 277 against England in Birmingham in 2003.

Debutant Tanvir Ahmed was the best of the Pakistan bowlers with six wickets but not even he was immune from the onslaught of De Villiers, conceding 120 runs in 27 overs.