Record-breaking Levi century trends globally

South African cricketer Richard Levi became a globally trending topic on Twitter after hitting a record number of sixes in his country’s second T20 International against New Zealand.

The young batsman made 117 off just 51 balls, helping his side cruise past New Zealand’s total of 173 in 16 overs.

Levi’s knock included 13 sixes and five fours. It was only his second international innings after making his debut in the first T20 International in New Zealand’s capital Wellington a couple of days ago.

Most of the tweets registered astonishment at the nature of Levi’s innings as people became aware of what was happening:

Richard Levi is just klapping sixes!!!!! Lol

— Psyfo (@therealpsyfo) February 19, 2012

Richard Levi! What a champ! It’s a putty one of those balls didn’t hit Bryce Lawrence! #NZvSA #justsaying #PureProteas

— Wesley Beath (@wezzo_b) February 19, 2012

And now the fastest century in a T20I! Richard Levi has done it in 45 balls against New Zealand. #cricket

— Hassan Ali (@Hassan_Ali_47) February 19, 2012

Richard Levi you beauty #Pureproteas @OfficialCSA 78 from 38. 9 6s wow

— Tali Munzhedzi (@Tali_Munzhedzi) February 19, 2012

A number of tweets also registered incredulity that Levi had failed to get a contract for one of cricket’s richest tournaments, the Indian Premier League (IPL):

RetardsRT @ackershd: Richard levi went unsold in ipl auction with a reseerve of 20 000.jayawardene goes for 1.4 million.good bussiness? Not.

— Gerard Correia (@GJ78) February 19, 2012

Not bad fella. Richard Levi fastest T20I century, and he doesn’t even have an IPL contract. #nzvsa

— Mike Silva (@msilva57) February 19, 2012

@IPLHow come u missed a guy called Richard Levi.Fabulous Batting @ESPNcricinfoI wont score a 100 In my Twitter account until Sachin Does

— Vijayaraghavan(@VijayaraghavanR) February 19, 2012

Richard Levi is trending hard in India already!! IPL auction going to be buck wild! Move over C.Gayle & D.Warner

— Kabelo Bodibe (@starangKB) February 19, 2012

Others noted how able a replacement Levi was proving to be for former captain Graeme Smith:

Masterful performance by Richard Levi! Biff who? #PureProtea

— Nickolaus Bauer (@NICKolausBAUER) February 19, 2012

Graeme Smith must do the honourable thing and step aside so Richard Levi can open for the one day side.

— Murray Ingram (@Murrayingram) February 19, 2012

Richard Levi: the reason why Graeme smith shouldn’t be in the T20 team let alone the Proteas

— David Lugube (@DavidLugube) February 19, 2012

A few paraphrased a popular whisky advert in their suggestions for what celebratory drink Levi should be given:

Give Richard Levi a Bells maan!

— Tshepo Shabalala (@dacreatist) February 19, 2012

Let’s all give Richard Levi a bottle of Bells. What a champ!

— Mkhululi Nonjola (@Mkhu_Luli) February 19, 2012

Levi hails from Cape Town and is a product of the same school as legendary South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis.