Cape Town - AB de Villiers is back!
Now fully available for South Africa in all formats, the former ODI and Test skipper was at his remarkable best oin the second ODI against Bangladesh in Paarl on Wednesday.
De Villiers smashed 176 off 104 balls, falling just 12 runs short of Gary Kirsten's record of 188* as the highest ever score by a South African in an ODI.
De Villiers was also threatening to become the first man in the history of ODI cricket to score a double hundred having not opened the batting.
His shot-making seems as good as ever, his ball-striking as clean as ever and it is good news for South Africans ahead of important series against India and Australia on home soil.
De Villiers' innings drew an immediate reaction from social media, with a number of former and current cricketers paying tribute to one of the most naturally gifted batsman of this generation.
Leading the chants was former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.
"The cricket world is simply a better place with a fit and firing AB de Villiers," he Tweeted.
The cricket world is simply a better place with a fit and firing @ABdeVilliers17 #class #entertainer
— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) October 19, 2017
And there were people that kept on doubting this man! @ABdeVilliers17 is an absolute genius when he steps onto the park! #livinglegend
— Dane van Niekerk (@danevn81) October 18, 2017
I love watching @ABdeVilliers17 bat!
— Chris Morris (@Tipo_Morris) October 18, 2017
Wow ! what smashing by AB De villiers. Should become the first middle -order batsman to score an ODI-double#SAvBAN
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 18, 2017
What a win boys.. @ABdeVilliers17 just continues to produce.! So great to witness an innings like that. #ABD #ProteaFire
— David Miller (@DavidMillerSA12) October 18, 2017
The Superman of Cricket, @ABdeVilliers17 scores a brilliant 100, again! It's time we get his DNA checked, because he isn't human. #PlayBold pic.twitter.com/xIPj7rlRr1
— Royal Challengers (@RCBTweets) October 18, 2017
Freak @ABdeVilliers17 .... #Fact
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) October 18, 2017
Congratulations to Man of the Match, the incomparable @ABdeVilliers17! pic.twitter.com/ML7KU4q2gZ
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) October 18, 2017
Clinical series win yesterday once again.special performance from @ABdeVilliers17 .when he is in that mood you don’t want to be a bowler ??
— Faf Du Plessis (@faf1307) October 19, 2017