AB de Villiers smashed an unbeaten 120 to help South Africa Champions beat Pakistan Champions by 9 wickets and win the World Championship of Legends 2025 Final at Edgbaston.
Pakistan Champions Set a Stiff Target
Winning the toss, Pakistan Champions chose to bat first.
Sharjeel Khan led the charge for Pakistan Champions with a quickfire 76 from 44 balls, hitting 9 fours and 4 sixes at a strike rate above 170.
However, Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals:
- Kamran Akmal fell early for just 2 runs.
- Captain Mohammad Hafeez scored 17.
- Shoaib Malik added 20.
- Asif Ali hit a quick 28 off 15 before falling in the final over.
Umar Amin’s unbeaten 36 off 19 helped Pakistan Champions reach 195/5 in 20 overs.
Bowling for South Africa Champions:
- Wayne Parnell: 4 overs, 32 runs, 2 wickets
- Hardus Viljoen: 4 overs, 38 runs, 2 wickets
- Duanne Olivier: chipped in with 1 wicket
AB de Villiers Masterclass Seals the Chase
- Chasing 196, South Africa Champions came out blazing.
- Opener Hashim Amla made a quick 18 off 14 before being dismissed by Saeed Ajmal. From there, AB de Villiers took complete control. His breathtaking unbeaten 120 off 60 balls featured 12 fours and 6 sixes, ending with a strike rate of 200.
- JP Duminy gave strong support with an unbeaten 50 from 28 balls, striking 5 boundaries and 2 sixes. Together, the duo stitched a match-winning stand of 125 runs, finishing the chase in only 16.5 overs.
Pakistan’s Bowlers Couldn’t Stop the Onslaught
- Rumman Raees, Imad Wasim, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez, and Aamer Yamin all tried their luck with the ball, but none managed to stop South Africa’s relentless scoring.
- Saeed Ajmal was the only wicket taker with 1/32 from 4 overs.
✅ Match Highlights
- Result: South Africa Champions won by 9 wickets
- Venue: Edgbaston, Birmingham
- Toss: Pakistan Champions won and opted to bat
- Pakistan Champions: Set a target of 195 for 5 in 20 overs, led by Sharjeel Khan’s quick 76 and Umar Amin’s unbeaten 36.
- South Africa Champions: Chased down the target with ease, reaching 197 for 1 in 16.5 overs as AB de Villiers remained unbeaten on 120 alongside JP Duminy’s solid 50 not out.
- Fall of wickets: Pakistan lost wickets at 14, 54, 126, 132, and 193, while South Africa lost their only wicket at 72.
- Player of the Match: AB de Villiers
📌 Key Takeaways
- AB de Villiers showed age is just a number with a stunning unbeaten century.
- Sharjeel Khan’s aggressive innings set things up well for Pakistan, yet their bowling attack couldn’t hold off South Africa’s chase.
- The Edgbaston crowd witnessed classic stroke play and big sixes in a final that lived up to the hype.
🏆 A Final to Remember
The World Championship of Legends 2025 Final brought back memories of iconic rivalries.
Fans will hope this tournament returns next year with even more legendary names.
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