De Villiers’ ton powers South Africa Champions to 241 against Australia Champions

AB de Villiers rolled back the years with a sensational century to lead the South Africa Champions to a commanding total of 241-6 against Australia Champions in the 12th fixture of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 at the Headingley Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Opting to bat first, the South Africa Champions posted 241-6 in their allocated 20 overs.

The Proteas openers put on a massive 187-run stand peppered with boundaries in just 13.3 overs. De Villiers played as the core aggressor, whereas JJ Smuts played the second fiddle.

The first six overs saw rain-boundaries all around the park as the Rainbow Nation scored 78 runs. After the fielding restrictions were lifted, South Africa continued the charge with 41-year-old De Villiers reaching his half-century on just 20 balls.

Meanwhile, JJ Smuts also accelerated and scored his fifty in the 12th over as South Africa brought the score to 160. In the next over, AB de Villiers took Darcy Short to the cleaners, accumulating 22 runs off the over and reaching his second consecutive ton in style.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel
Eventually, De Villiers was out in the 13th over after scoring 123 runs from just 46 balls, laced with eight towering sixes and 15 fours.

However, the Australia Champions fought back at the end of the innings with quick wickets to restrict the South Africa Champions below 250, which had looked easy at one stage of the innings.

JJ Smuts’ prolific innings of 85 off 53 balls was laced with three sixes and 10 fours.

For Australia Champions, Peter Siddle was the pick of the bowlers, picking up three wickets in his quota of four overs.

Earlier, South Africa skipper Aaron Phangiso won the toss and decided to bat first. The Proteas have De Villiers back in their side after missing out on their encounter against the Pakistan Champions.

Playing XIs

Australia Champions 

Shaun Marsh, Chris Lynn, D Arcy Short, Ben Dunk(w), Callum Ferguson, Ben Cutting, Daniel Christian, John Hastings, Steve O’Keefe, Brett Lee(c), Peter Siddle

South Africa Champions 

AB de Villiers, Henry Davids, JJ Smuts, Sarel Erwee, Jacques Rudolph, Jean-Paul Duminy, Morne van Wyk(w), Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso(c), Hardus Viljoen, Duanne Olivier