By Zainab Shafiq 
In a spectacular final of the World Championship of Legends (WCL 2025) at Edgbaston, Birmingham, South Africa Champions cruised to a nine-wicket victory over Pakistan Champions, thanks to a breathtaking 60-ball 120* by AB de Villiers. Chasing 196, the Proteas legends sealed the title in just 16.5 overs, delivering a clinical performance that highlighted experience, class, and unrelenting aggression.
Pakistan Champions, after winning the toss and electing to bat, posted 195/5 in their 20 overs—a total that looked competitive on paper but proved well below par given the conditions and South Africa’s batting firepower.
Pakistan’s innings: Brisk start, tame finish
Pakistan were off to a decent start despite losing Kamran Akmal early for just 2. Sharjeel Khan took charge, playing a fiery knock of 76 off 44 balls, laced with 9 boundaries and 4 towering sixes. Captain Mohammad Hafeez (17 off 10) and Shoaib Malik (20 off 25) added brief cameos but failed to convert their starts into something more substantial.
The middle overs were well managed by South African bowlers, particularly Wayne Parnell and Hardus Viljoen, who struck key blows. Asif Ali tried to up the ante with a quickfire 28 off 15 balls, while Umar Amin remained unbeaten on 36* off 19, giving Pakistan some late momentum. However, with only 14 runs coming in extras and a lack of big hits at the death, Pakistan were arguably 20 runs short of a truly challenging score.
Parnell (2/32) and Viljoen (2/38) were the pick of the bowlers, while Olivier and Tahir kept things tight despite the flat pitch.
De Villiers steals the show
In reply, South Africa lost Hashim Amla for 18 after a steady opening partnership of 72. That would be Pakistan’s only success of the night. From there, it was the AB de Villiers show. The former Proteas skipper reminded everyone of his vintage self with a jaw-dropping knock: 120 runs off just 60 balls, including 12 fours and 7 sixes, striking at 200.
JP Duminy played the perfect support act, staying unbeaten on 50* from 28 deliveries, hitting 4 boundaries and 2 sixes. The duo chased down the target with 19 balls to spare, utterly dominating a Pakistani bowling attack that looked helpless in the face of De Villiers’ onslaught.
Pakistan’s bowlers had no answers. Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir, Imad Wasim, and others all went for over 8 runs per over. Even the usually reliable Saeed Ajmal went wicketless, conceding 32 in his 4 overs.
Anas Ahmed 
Manvindar Singh