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BIRMINGHAM: AB de Villiers hammered an unbeaten century to help South Africa Champions decimate Pakistan Champions by nine wickets and seal the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 title at Edgbaston on Saturday.
Chasing a stiff target of 196, the Proteas romped home with 19 balls to spare, thanks largely to a brutal 120* off just 60 balls from De Villiers.
The star batter smashed 12 fours and seven sixes in a knock that completely deflated the Pakistani bowling attack.
It’s worth mentioning that this was his third hundred of the tournament.
AB De Villiers started off with a brisk 72-run opening stand with Hashim Amla (18), who fell to Saeed Ajmal on the final ball of the powerplay.
JP Duminy joined his former captain, and the two shared an unbroken 125-run partnership to close out the match without any further damage.
Duminy finished with a fluent 50* off 28 balls, striking six boundaries.
Saeed Ajmal was the only wicket-taker for Pakistan, while the rest struggled for any control or breakthroughs.
Earlier, Pakistan Champions posted a competitive 195-5 after opting to bat first. Captain Mohammad Hafeez’s decision looked justified as the middle and lower order stepped up after an early setback.
Opener Kamran Akmal fell cheaply in the third over for 2, but Sharjeel Khan anchored the innings with a commanding 76 off 44 balls, laced with nine fours and four sixes.
He stitched a 40-run stand with Hafeez (17) and then added 72 runs with Shoaib Malik for the third wicket before falling to Hardus Viljoen.
Malik never got going and was dismissed for a scratchy 20 off 25 in the 15th over. That brought Umar Amin and Asif Ali together, and the duo gave Pakistan a much-needed boost in the death overs with a 61-run blitz.
Asif made 28 off 15, while Amin remained unbeaten on 36 off 19, both hitting three sixes apiece.
For South Africa, Viljoen and Wayne Parnell picked up two wickets each, with Duanne Olivier also chipping in.
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