HAMILTON — Richard Levi smashed the most sixes and the quickest century ever as he raced South Africa to victory by eight wickets to level the series in the second T20 cricket international against New Zealand on Sunday.
Levi, who only made his debut on Friday in Wellington, took advantage of the small boundaries at Seddon Park to blast a world record 13 sixes on his way to recording the fastest international Twenty20 century off 45 balls as he scored 117 not out to help the visitors chase down New Zealand’s 173 for four with four overs to spare.
The powerfully-built Levi was brutal to a wayward New Zealand attack who bowled into his arc allowing him to smash the ball across the ropes from mid-off around to deep backward square-leg.
Captain AB de Villiers (39 not out) simply ticked the strike over to the 24-year-old who wasted little time in bringing up his century when he pushed the ball into the covers for a rare single.
West Indies opener Chris Gayle had held the previous record for sixes in a Twenty20 international with 10, while Gayle and Brendon McCullum had shared the record for fastest century.
Both had achieved the mark in 50 balls. Martin Guptill top-scored for New Zealand with 47 from 35 balls though the South Africans would be pleased to have stopped him passing 50.
He made 78 not out in the first Twenty20 against South Africa in Wellington on Friday.
South African offspinner Johan Botha was the pick of the visitors’ attack on Sunday as he mixed the speed, width and loop on his deliveries to finish with one for 22 from four overs.
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The final match of the Twenty20 series is on Wednesday at Eden Park in Auckland.
