Veteran brilliance lit up the County Ground as AB de Villiers rolled back the years with a blazing 63 off just 30 balls*, propelling South Africa Champions to a massive 88-run win (DLS method) over India Champions in the sixth match of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025.
In a rain-affected encounter that saw momentum swing wildly, it was South Africa’s seasoned stars who stood tallest, while India’s legends struggled to match the pace and precision of their opponents.
AB de Villiers Shines as South Africa Post 208/6
Winning the toss, India Champions opted to bowl first, hoping to chase under lights. But that decision quickly backfired as South Africa’s top order laid a solid foundation.
Jacques Rudolph (24 off 20) and JJ Smuts (30 off 17) gave their side early impetus, but it was AB de Villiers who took control in the final overs. Displaying his trademark 360-degree range, De Villiers played audacious strokes all around the ground, accelerating South Africa to 208/6 in 20 overs.
India’s bowlers had little answer. Yusuf Pathan was the most effective with 2/26 in 3 overs, and Piyush Chawla chipped in with 2/31, using his flight and variations well. But Abhimanyu Mithun proved expensive, conceding 51 runs in 4 overs.
India Collapse in DLS-Chased Target of 200
Due to weather interruptions, India Champions were handed a revised target of 200 runs in 20 overs. However, their chase never really got going.
Despite Stuart Binny’s unbeaten 37 off 39 balls, India lost wickets at regular intervals. The aggressive Suresh Raina managed 16 off 11, but the rest of the batting order collapsed under pressure.
South Africa’s bowling was both disciplined and deadly.
- Aaron Phangiso led the way with 3/17 in 4 overs, strangling India’s middle order.
- Wayne Parnell was sensational with the new ball, taking 2 wickets without conceding a single run in his 2 overs.
- Imran Tahir, as always, brought energy and breakthroughs with 2/24 in 3.2 overs, sealing the deal.
India were eventually restricted to 111/9 in 18.2 overs, well short of the target.
Legends Showdown, But South Africa Dominate
This clash between cricketing legends was highly anticipated, but it was South Africa Champions who dominated in all departments. With this emphatic win, they not only grabbed vital points in the tournament standings but also sent a clear message to the rest of the teams.
For India, it was a wake-up call. While Binny and Yusuf Pathan showed flashes of fight, the team lacked cohesion with both bat and ball. Going forward, they’ll need their senior players like Raina and Vinay Kumar to step up in crunch moments.
Score Summary:
South Africa Champions: 208/6 (20 overs)
- AB de Villiers – 63* (30)
- JJ Smuts – 30 (17)
- Jacques Rudolph – 24 (20)
- Yusuf Pathan – 2/26 (3), Piyush Chawla – 2/31 (4)
India Champions: 111/9 (18.2 overs)
- Stuart Binny – 37* (39)
- Suresh Raina – 16 (11)
- Vinay Kumar – 13 (12)
- Aaron Phangiso – 3/17 (4), Wayne Parnell – 2/0 (2), Imran Tahir – 2/24 (3.2)
Result: South Africa Champions won by 88 runs (DLS method)
Venue: The County Ground
Toss: India Champions won the toss and opted to bowl
