SA vs WI 2nd T20I key takeaways: Charles' 39-ball hundred, de Kock's 43-ball ton, highest ever T20I run chase

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South Africa chased down 259 to register the highest-ever run-chase in T20I history and level the 3-match series 1-1 against West Indies in Centurion on Sunday. It rained boundaries at the SuperSport Park despite a wicket on the third ball of the match.

Kyle Mayers (51 off 118) and Johnson Charles (118) forged a 135-run partnership off 58 balls. Later, power-packed innings from skipper Rovman Powell (28 off 19) and Romario Shepherd (41* off 18) saw the visitors post 258/5 in 20 overs.

However, South Africa, who hold the record for highest-ever ODI run-chase (435 vs Australia in 2006), made the record their own in the shortest format of the game as well. Quinton de Kock (100) and Reeza Hendricks (68) fired hosts to a six-wicket win with seven balls to spare.

SA vs WI 2nd T20I key takeaways

Johnson Charles goes wild to break Chris Gayle's record

The right-hand batter completed his fifty off 23 balls and then took just 16 more balls to complete the fastest T20I hundred by a West Indies batter. By completing his hundred of 39 balls, Charles broke Chris Gayle's record of 47-ball hundred against England in Mumbai at the T20 World Cup 2016.

Overall, the 34-year-old now has joint second-fastest T20I hundred to his name. His 11 sixes on Sunday are now joint sixth-highest in an T20I innings. He also smashed 10 fours to score 118 runs off 46 balls at an average of 256.52.

Quinton de Kock's solid response to Charles' hundred

The South Africa wicketkeeper-batter scored a 43-ball hundred in response to the whirlwind knock from Charles. He took four more balls than the West Indian for his hundred but made sure that his team won the match with seven balls to spare.

The southpaw now has the second fastest hundred for South Africa. Compatriot David Miller holds the record for the joint fastest ever T20I hundred off 35 balls. Overall, de Kock is now sixth on the list of fastest T20I hundred.

The 30-year-old's partnership with Hendricks accounted for 152 runs off just 65 balls. De Kock hit nine fours and eight sixes to smash 100 off 44 at a strike rate of 227.27

South Africa register highest successful T20I run-chase

On March 12, 2006 - South Africa registered the highest successful run-chase by a team in ODI cricket. They gunned down a mammoth 435-run target against then champions Australia. They now own the record in the shortest format of the game as well.

After West Indies posted 258/5 on board, it looked as if the visitors would take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3-match series. But South Africa made a very tough target look ultra-easy once again. 259 was chased with seven balls to spare.

Earlier, Bulgaria held the record by chasing 243 against Serbia in June 2022.