WCL 2025: AB de Villiers produced a batting masterclass to guide South Africa Champions to a thumping nine-wicket win over Pakistan Champions in the final of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 at Edgbaston on Saturday.
Chasing a daunting target of 196, the Proteas made light work of the task, romping home with 19 balls to spare. de Villiers was the undisputed star of the show, blasting an unbeaten 120 off just 60 balls, his third century of the tournament.
His knock, studded with 12 fours and 7 sixes, left the Pakistan bowlers with no answers and ensured South Africa’s emphatic run in the competition ended in title glory.
de Villiers began with a fluent 72-run opening stand with Hashim Amla (18), who was dismissed by Saeed Ajmal on the final ball of the powerplay. But that was the only success Pakistan enjoyed as Jean-Paul Duminy (50 off 28)* joined forces with his former skipper to stitch an unbroken 145-run stand, steering the team to victory in style. Duminy played the perfect supporting role, hitting six boundaries in his elegant innings.
Earlier, after opting to bat first, Pakistan Champions posted a competitive 195/5, anchored by a scintillating 76 off 44 from Sharjeel Khan, who smashed nine fours and four sixes. Though Kamran Akmal fell early for 2, Sharjeel built valuable partnerships with Mohammad Hafeez (17) and Shoaib Malik (20). In the final overs, Umar Amin (36 off 19)* and Asif Ali (28 off 15) provided the late fireworks with a 61-run blitz, taking Pakistan close to the 200-run mark.
South Africa’s bowlers held their nerve at the death, with Hardus Viljoen and Wayne Parnell picking up two wickets each, while Duanne Olivier chipped in with one.
In the end, though, it was AB de Villiers’ ruthless knock that proved to be the difference, as South Africa Champions lifted the WCL 2025 trophy with a dominant performance in the final.