Records are broken as SA defeats the Windies

On Sunday at Centurion, South Africa defeated the West Indies by six wickets in a Twenty20 international match after mounting the highest-scoring run chase in the history of the format.

South Africa scored 259-4 after being given an intimidating target of 13 runs per over to win the match, led by opener Quinton de Kock's first T20 century.

The West Indies were put in to bat and amassed a formidable total before being led by Johnson Charles to 258-5, a new record T20 total at the Pretoria test venue.

The 34-year-old from St. Lucia broke Chris Gayle's previous record for the fastest century by eight balls, and set a new record for the West Indies.

Before being bowled by Marco Jansen, South Africa's best bowler with a 3-52 record, Charles had scored 118 off of 46 balls. His 11 sixes, which made up half of the West Indies' total for the inning, tied the record of 22 set by Afghanistan's innings against Ireland three years prior.

Kyle Mayers (51) and Romario Shepherd's unbeaten 41 run partnership in the second wicket, which spanned 135 runs, provided Charles with some solid support.

In response, South Africa got off to a lightning-fast start and set a new T20 record by scoring 150 runs off just 10 overs.

De Kock needed 43 balls to reach his century, but he left immediately afterward, ending his 152-run opening stand with Reeza Hendricks, who scored 68 off 28.

By lowering the required run rate, the pair enabled captain Aiden Markram (38 not out) to lead his team home to an incredible victory with seven balls left.

The batter-friendly pitch produced 517 runs, the highest total in a T20 international, in a run feast for the enthusiastic crowd, including 35 sixes and 46 fours.

With the third and final T20 match on Tuesday at the Wanderers in Johannesburg, South Africa tied the three-match series.

The first game was won on Saturday by West Indies by three wickets.