AB de Villiers stuns cricket world with 'insane' new shot
AB de Villiers has been named man of the match in a Lahore Qalandars victory in the Pakistan Super League.
And while it was nominally for his match-winning 52 runs off 29 balls, there’s a very real possibility the voters were awestruck by one shot in particular.
Facing a free hit in the 18th over, still with 32 runs to get off 14 balls, the South African great got exactly what he wanted from Junaid Khan.
The full toss well outside off might have been lifted over the covers by any other batsman.
But de Villiers saw an opportunity, getting down on his right knee, reversing his bat and scooping the ball for six runs over third man.
It sent the crowd wild and cricket fans on social media couldn’t get enough:
The reverse scoop AB de Villiers played for six is testament to the fact he is Mr. 360 degree. Never seen anything like this. Incredible hitting by him and David Wiese to scale a 200 target. Lahore once again being truly an entertaining team. Treat to watch! #KhelDeewanoKa
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) February 22, 2019
Congrats @ABdeVilliers17 on becoming first man of the match in PSL. Mr 360 for a reason . #DamaDamMast #PSL #Sixes #Amazing #Innings pic.twitter.com/0T7TaMklt0
— rahat ali (@rahat_211) February 22, 2019
What a victory @lahoreqalandars !! Congratulations! @ABdeVilliers17 what a game changer. Hard luck @MultanSultans ❤ pic.twitter.com/wEOYavbBil
— Hamadullah Awan (@Awan_hamadullah) February 22, 2019
Koi pouchy tou kehna #AB aya tha…💌
That six to junaid was wow some! 💕#ABdeVilliers #SuperManOfTheMatch pic.twitter.com/AKVBNT2YoN— Syed Muhammad Haider Jaffri (@IamHaider_) February 22, 2019
That was a six
AB de villiers you alien .#GOAT pic.twitter.com/5qOYYXkeYf— Ammar Malik (@AmmarM1817) February 22, 2019
Players may come and go but nobody will ever match the level of AB de Villiers. His ability to hit six in every ball, even in Yorker is insane. This guys crazy!#PSL4
— Sudhanshu 🇮🇳 (@beingsudhanshu_) February 22, 2019
Damn! that six on free hit by @ABdeVilliers17 👏 only he could do it #LQvMS
— M Salman Siddiq (@MSalmanSiddiq3) February 22, 2019
There were more layers to the shot, too.
Earlier in the over, de Villiers hit a similar wide full toss for six over the covers with a standard technique.
In addition to that, the Test great was only on strike for the free hit after crossing on the previous delivery when batting partner and countryman David Wiese was caught off a no ball.
Wiese survived to hit 45 runs off 20 balls, including five sixes and one off the final ball to lift the Qulandars to a six-wicket victory over the Multan Sultans.
“I was fortunate in being able to take my time at the beginning of my innings and play myself in,” de Villiers said.
“David Wiese took a lot of the pressure off me, being a boundary hitter.
“We were on the ropes earlier but I told the lads to keep fighting, keep fighting, as it would come down to one or two runs.”
Aussie allrounder Dan Christian, fresh off his Big Bash win with the Renegades, made 21 runs and bowled one over for the Sultans.