BBL 2019-20: AB de Villiers smashes a monstrous six off Dilbar Hussain

There are certain things on a cricket field that AB de Villiers does, which normal mortals are even allowed to dream of; let alone executing them. The former South African captain is one of the most sought after properties in franchise cricket thanks to gobsmacking and at times outrageous strokeplay.

De Villiers is currently enthralling the cricketing folklore in the ongoing Big Bash League where he is plying his trade for the Chris Lynn-led Brisbane Heat. The South African legend had started his BBL campaign with an enterprising knock against Adelaide Strikers, but it was on Sunday where Mr 360 finally unleashed the full throttle as he went hammer and tongs against table-toppers Melbourne Stars in what is a crucial encounter for the Brisbane Heat.

Batting first, Brisbane Heat had accumulated 2/58 in the first eight over with Sam Heazlett [18 off 7 balls] and Ben Cutting [22 off 22 balls] notching up quick-fire cameos before the might of AB de Villiers took centerstage. Heat continued to lose wickets with skipper Chris Lynn [34 off 31 balls] and Matt Renshaw [10 off 10 balls] falling in quick succession.

AB de Villiers’ whirlwind knock steers Brisbane Heat to a 71-run-win

In what was a must-win game, the Brisbane Heat needed someone to put his hand up and play a defining inning. And, AB de Villiers turned out to be that guy for the Brisbane-based franchise. The South African legend shellacked the Stars bowling attack to all corners of the ground as he racked up a whirlwind 71 off 37 balls- an innings which included just two fours but six Brobdingnagian sixes.

De Villiers played a plethora of drool-worthy strokes on his way to a 37-ball 71, but one stroke that left everyone gobsmacked was the shot that he hit off Dilbar Hussain. It all happened during the 18th over of the Brisbane Heat innings when the South African legend got deep into his crease on a fullish-length delivery by Hussain and proceeded to wallop it towards the long-on boundary.

The Heat proceeded to post 5/186 after 20 overs, a target which was ably defended by the trio of James Pattinson [2/17], Mujeeb Ur-Rahman [2/11] and Mitchell Swepson [3/31] proceeded to run through the Stars’ batting unit with disdain. The Stars’ were eventually bowled out for 115 in 17.4 overs. 

Watch the shot here:

That's huge.

ABdV 😍 #BBL09 pic.twitter.com/pRAL0exjkA

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 25, 2020