Cape Town - Proteas batsman Richard Levi says he is much more than just a T20 specialist after slamming 117 off 51 balls to crush New Zealand in the second T20 international in Hamilton on Sunday.

"It's merely one format in which I've had a decent run and performed well in. I've also scored centuries in one-day and four-day competitions. I think I've started reasonably well in all formats of the game," Levi told Volksblad.

It was not only the first century for South Africa in T20 internationals, but the quickest century in this format of the game and the most sixes in an innings. Levi reached his hundred off just 45 balls, shattering the record of 50 balls set previously by West Indian Chris Gayle and Kiwi Brendon McCullum, and stole another record from Gayle with his 13 sixes bettering the left-hander's previous mark of 10.

Gayle, who's currently in South Africa where he's hoping to overcome a groin injury to play for the Dolphins, congratulated Levi via Twitter upon his arrival on Sunday. "Just came off a long flight...Then told by a police officer my T20 record gone, I smile- That's good for the game! Well Done Richard Levi!!," tweeted Gayle.

In the first T20 international in Wellington on Friday, Levi was involved in a war-of-words with Kiwi speedster Tim Southee after the latter struck Levi on the head with a bouncer.

And Levi said the sledging didn't stop on Sunday. "They kept on doing it. It was clearly a tactic from them (to try and unnerve me), but it didn't bother me in the slightest. At the end of each over I walked to one side to gather my thoughts for the next over," said Levi.