The De Villiers Sequence: 4-2-1-1-4-6-4-6-6-0-2-2-1-1-6-6-6-4-6-1-4-1-1-0-4-4-0-6-4-6-6

Image courtesy: Cricketstills.com
Saket Parekar

4-2-1-1-4-6-­4-6-6-0-2-2-­1-1-6-6-6-4-­6-1-4-1-1-0-­4-4-0-6-4-6-­6

These are not just random numbers. A true cricket fan would know what they mean and probably frame them on his bedroom door alongside a photo of Abraham Benjamin de Villiers.

We’re not making it up. Just look at this scorecard.

Freakish. Explosive. Mind-boggling. You can use all the adjectives from the Oxford English dictionary and still wouldn’t arrive at the right word to describe what AB de Villiers did against West Indies on Sunday. It wasn’t batting. It was butchery.

While some of us were out of words following AB’s electrifying innings, Twitter exploded with words of praise and funny reactions from fans around the globe. Here are the most memorable ones.

1. You know you’ve just witnessed something epic when this happens.

2. And one Sir Jadeja on Twitter promptly came up with an answer to AB’s onslaught.

3. Vijay Mallya was quick to demand his dues.

4. Some called it Shaolin cricket

5. One particular follower was quick to point out that AB is not perfect, after all.

6. AB has offered hope to all of us.

7. And Obama has been advised to tighten his security.

8. Sir Jadeja sums up De Villiers.

9. AB is being described as the seventh wonder.

10.  Even the fastest man on earth is stunned.

11. When AB plays book cricket…

12. Spare a thought for the umpires.

13. Ishant is about to give up.

14. Just to describe how fast that innings really was

15. Even aliens were awestruck.

16. Afridi doesn’t look happy.

17. Ishant sends his regards to the poor West Indian bowlers.

18. Who can let go of a good chance to take a dig at SA’s history at the World Cup?

19. AB, the delivery guy.

20. And finally, a new title for the South African