AB to Z

Delhi's De Villiers attributes success to natural instincts

u00a0In an unbelievable display of big hitting AB de Villiers, who aims to become the No 1 batsman in the world, became the seventh player to strike a century in the Indian Premier League.

The 25-year-old South African, coming in at No 3 after the early demise of Gautam Gambhir, hit a swashbuckling unbeaten 105 off 54 deliveries with six sixes one off Albie Morkel, two of Manpreet Gony and three off England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and five 4s in the game against the Chennai Super Kings yesterday.

"It was a day when everything came right," De Villiers said soon after his blistering innings on a pitch which was conducive for batting.

"I had to chance my hand at times we had lost early wickets and said to myself that I could be the only one who could play my natural game and get the runs on the board.

"The pitch was brilliant for batting. The ball came on nicely at times just too nicely and in the slot to be tucked away for boundaries.

"It feels great to have gone past the 100-mark in this form of cricket it's instant and as a batsman you have to think on your feet all the time."u00a0 With De Villiers in such form, the Daredevils look set to go far in the second edition.