Defeat to India factor behind my knock: De Villiers

Sydney, Feb 27 (IANS) An elated South Africa skipper AB De Villiers, who smashed an unbeaten 162 off 66 deliveries against the West Indies here Friday, said it was pain from the humiliating defeat to India that got him to play such a devastating innings.

"A bit of everything, a bit of pain in the previous game,” de Villiers said.

In the 30th over, South Africa were 146/3 when de Villiers joined Rilee Rossouw (61) to start an onslaught that lasted till the end of the innings taking their score to 408/5.

De Villiers ended up scoring the second fastest World Cup century in 52 balls and the fastest 150 to bring up South Africa's highest World Cup total which also is the second highest Cup total after India's 413/5 against Bermuda in 2007.

"I'm a bit surprised, it was a very enjoyable knock. I thought the foundation the boys laid upfront once again allowed us to free-up. It's just one of those knocks when everything came my way and a little bit of luck here and there," said de Villiers after scoring his 20th One-Day International (ODI) century.

The 31-year-old praised Rossouw’s knock that allowed him to build his innings and then clobber the bowlers all around the ground.

“It was one of the days when you just click in the last 10 overs. Rilee played an exceptional knock. A great injection of momentum for us. I could bat around him at the start and then free up a bit as well," he added.