South African legend AB de Villiers turned back the clock with a breathtaking century in the World Championship of Legends 2025, reaffirming his status as one of the most explosive batters the game has ever seen. Playing for the South Africa Champions in the 12th match of the marquee tournament, de Villiers delivered a vintage masterclass against the Australia Legends, reaching his hundred in just 39 balls.
The milestone came in the 13th over of the innings, as de Villiers showcased the kind of aggressive brilliance that defined his prime. He eventually scored a sensational 123 off just 46 deliveries, peppering the boundary with 15 fours and clearing it eight times. This effort marked his second consecutive century in the tournament, following an unbeaten 116* off 51 balls against England — proving that even at 41, AB is far from finished thrilling cricket fans.
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His last three innings in the WCL 2025 underline his red-hot form:
123 (46) vs Australia
116* (51) vs England
63* (30) vs India
De Villiers wasn’t the only one on fire. JJ Smuts played the perfect supporting role, smashing a quick-fire 85 from 53 balls as the duo combined to tear apart the Australian bowling attack. Their partnership powered South Africa Champions to a colossal total of 242, setting up what was expected to be a high-voltage chase.
With just one loss, to Pakistan, the South Africa Champions currently sit second on the points table, behind only the Australia Champions. Having already secured a spot in the knockout stage, the team appears poised for a strong finish, driven by the ageless brilliance of AB de Villiers.