Ab de Villiers slammed a 47-ball hundred to guide South Africa Champions to a mammoth 9-wicket win in the WCL 2025 final against South Africa. The Proteas chased down the 196-run target with utmost ease and 19 balls remaining. Mohammed Hafeez and co. had no idea of how to stop de Villiers’ onslaught as the bowlers were taken to the cleaners.
de Villiers shines as South Africa smother Pakistan
Batting first in the WCL 2025 final, Pakistan managed to reach 195/5 at the end of 20 overs, with Sharjeel Khan top-scoring for the side with a 76-run knock. Some handy contributions from the middle-order including Shoaib Malik allowed the side to reach a face-saving total.
However, Ab de Villiers made a mockery of Pakistan’s total with his whirlwind knock. The South African captain got his team across the line with ease, playing a 120-run knock that was studded with 12 fours and seven sixes. JP Duminy too scored a half-century as the duo saw SA across the line with ease. Saeed Ajmal was the only Pakistan bowler to get a wicket in the final.
What was more special about de Villiers’ knock was that he braved through a hamstring injury to wow spectators with some breathtaking shots.
Shortly after South Africa Champions lifted the WCL 2025 trophy, Suresh Raina took a dig at Pakistan. Taking to social media platform X, the southpaw rubbed salt on the wounds of PAK, claiming that even India would have crushed them had the two sides met in the final. After boycotting their tournament opener against Pakistan Champions, India Champions once again repeated the same in the semi-final, picking country above contest.
In other news, just after Pakistan Champions loss in the final, the PCB announced a blanket ban on the country’s future participation in the WCL. In a press release, PCB cried foul over the way WCL organizers handled the situation after India boycotted Pakistan in the tournament.
Editor's Pick
Cricket
Gautam Gambhir avoids back-to-back series defeats, but selection & tactics concerns remain
Top Stories
