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AB thanks Boucher for input

Cape Town - Proteas wicketkeeper AB de Villiers has praised former 'keeper Mark Boucher after he made a few records tumble during his side's crushing 211-run victory over Pakistan at the Wanderers on Monday.

While his team-mate dale Steyn walked away with the man-of-the-match accolade after a match haul of 11 for 60, De Villiers also made sure he wrote his name in the record books, according to the Beeld website.

He took 11 catches behind the stumps to become the joint-leader for most catches by a 'keeper in Test cricket. He now shares the record with England's Jack Russell who took 11 catches against South Africa, coincidentally also at the Wanderers in late 1995.

De Villiers in the process also broke the South African record for the most catches by a wicketkeeper. Boucher and Dave Richardson shared the previous record of nine.

De Villiers also performed with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 103 in South Africa's second innings to became the first player in Test history to score a century and take more than 10 catches in a game.

And De Villiers had only good words to say about Boucher, who he replaced in England last year after a freak eye accident ended Boucher's career. He said the 147-Test veteran Boucher often gives him advice.

"When Mark sees something on TV, he will phone me and say: 'Hold your head a little stiller when you catch the ball'," said De Villiers.

"I am very thankful for his input. Every day I learn something new about this art and I'm still not where I want to be as a wicketkeeper."

The second of three Tests between South Africa and Pakistan starts at Newlands next Thursday.

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