AB de Villiers masterclass led South Africa Champions to a dominant nine-wicket win over Pakistan Champions in the final of the 2025 World Championship of Legends (WCL) in Birmingham. With an unbeaten 120 off just 60 balls, de Villiers silenced the Edgbaston crowd and clinched both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards.
Pakistan Sets a Competitive Target
Pakistan Champions won the toss and opted to bat first. They posted a solid 195 for 5 in their 20 overs. Sharjeel Khan gave them a flying start, smashing 76 off 44 balls, including aggressive strokes against the pacers and spinners alike.
Umar Amin added firepower at the end, scoring an unbeaten 36 from just 19 deliveries. Pakistan seemed on course for a score beyond 200, but South Africa’s bowlers tightened the grip in the final overs.
Wayne Parnell and Hardus Viljoen picked up two wickets each, keeping Pakistan’s total within reach. Parnell finished with figures of 2 for 32, while Viljoen took 2 for 38. Their disciplined bowling helped restrict Pakistan during key middle overs.
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De Villiers Shines Under Pressure
Chasing 196, South Africa Champions came out with confidence. AB de Villiers took charge from the beginning. He batted with flair, precision, and unmatched timing. Hitting 12 fours and 7 sixes, de Villiers dominated the chase and left the bowlers clueless.
Partnering with JP Duminy, de Villiers controlled the innings from the second over. The duo added 197 runs without much trouble. Duminy played a crucial support role, finishing unbeaten on 50 off 28 balls. His timely boundaries and strike rotation allowed de Villiers to flourish freely.
Pakistan’s Bowling Falters
Pakistan’s bowlers had no answers for the South African batting onslaught. Saeed Ajmal was the only one to take a wicket, finishing with 1 for 32 from four overs. Others, including Wahab Riaz and Rumman Raees, went wicketless and leaked runs.
Raees conceded 33 runs in 3.5 overs, while Wahab Riaz gave away 33 in three. Their inability to build pressure gave de Villiers and Duminy a chance to attack from both ends.
Even Pakistan’s spinners failed to turn things around on a dry surface. Aamer Yamin and others tried variations, but de Villiers was in a different league.
Match-Winning Partnership
The unbeaten stand between de Villiers and Duminy sealed the deal with 19 balls to spare. The chase ended in the 17th over when Duminy lofted Rumman Raees for a massive six, sparking celebrations in the South African dugout.
De Villiers reached his hundred in just 54 balls and went on to finish at 120 not out, displaying pure dominance. He timed his innings perfectly, accelerating when needed and keeping the scoreboard ticking throughout.
De Villiers Dominates the Tournament
AB de Villiers capped off the tournament with an incredible 429 runs, earning him the Player of the Series title. His consistency and aggressive strokeplay defined South Africa’s journey throughout the WCL.
His ability to control games under pressure and shift momentum made him the standout performer in the tournament. The final was the perfect ending to his exceptional run, where he combined class with ruthlessness.
A Fitting End to the Tournament
South Africa Champions lifted the 2025 WCL trophy with an emphatic performance. Their campaign was marked by experienced leadership, powerful batting, and smart bowling changes. The final underlined their all-round strength.
For Pakistan, despite their strong run to the final and some standout individual performances, their bowling collapse in the decider proved costly.
As the curtain fell on the tournament at Edgbaston, one thing was clear — AB de Villiers, even in the legends circuit, remains a master of the game. His bat did the talking, and the world once again watched in awe.
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