Unbeaten Century by de Villiers Outshines Pakistan in World Cup Final
South Africa Wins World Champions League Final Against Pakistan
In a thrilling finale at Edgbaston, England, AB de Villiers' unbeaten century led South Africa Champions to a commanding nine-wicket victory over Pakistan in the 2025 World Champions League (WCL) final.
Pakistan, who had topped the group stage, advanced directly to the final due to India forfeiting their semifinal match. South Africa, on the other hand, had narrowly defeated Australia in their semifinal.
Pakistan managed to score 196/5 in their 20 overs, with Sharjeel Khan contributing 76 runs and Umar Amin scoring 36. However, it was not enough to challenge South Africa's batting might.
AB de Villiers took the reins, scoring an unbeaten century (120*) off just 51 balls, consisting of 12 fours and 7 sixes. His innings, which he played despite a hamstring injury, was a testament to his resilience and skill under pressure.
The outcome of the match was largely decided by the halfway mark of the chase. Duanne Olivier, Wayne Parnell, and Hardus Viljoen took a wicket each for South Africa, while Asif Ali scored 28 runs for Pakistan in the death overs, contributing 61 runs to their total score.
Hashim Amla scored 18 runs before being dismissed early in the match. However, it was de Villiers' knock that dominated the Pakistani bowling attack, effectively winning the match from the front as captain.
His unbeaten century overshadowed Pakistan's efforts and marked a memorable moment in the legends’ tournament, adding an international trophy to his decorated career late in his playing days. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has since imposed a 'blanket ban' on future participation in the World Champions League.
In summary, de Villiers' innings stood out not only for its high-impact and rapid scoring but also for the context of overcoming injury and leading from the front in a high-profile final between cricketing legends, cementing his status as one of the greats in cricket history.
The risk of losing the World Champions League final was evident for South Africa as they faced a strong Pakistani team, especially considering Pakistan's direct entry to the final. However, the South African sports index soared as AB de Villiers' unbeaten century secured a convincing 9-wicket victory, with the sports index index reaching an all-time high due to the thrilling performance.
