On Sunday (July 27) at Headingley, AB de Villiers hit yet another blistering century in the ongoing World Championship of Legends.
It’s been seven years since AB de Villiers last played international cricket for South Africa, and four years since his retirement from the professional game. Yet, the Proteas legend continues to captivate fans, offering glimpses of his vintage brilliance at the 2025 World Championship of Legends, a tournament for retired cricketers from six international teams.
Three days after smashing a 41-ball century for South Africa Champions against England Champions, De Villiers continued his rich vein of form with another blistering ton – this time even faster, off 39 balls.
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Batting first on Sunday against Australia Champions, he looked once again at his best, dispatching bowlers all around the park, particularly down the ground. He raced to a 22-ball fifty before unleashing carnage against Daniel Christian in the 10th over, plundering 20 runs off the last five deliveries. His second fifty took just 17 balls, with the left-arm wrist spin of D’Arcy Short bearing the brunt – 22 runs vanished in the 13th over. The shot that sealed his century – a switch-hit four off Short – was reminiscent his glory-day audacity.
Ab Devillers ra lucha 😍
— Minnu Maawa ᴱᶜᶠ (@minnumaawa) July 27, 2025
pic.twitter.com/9OjX1oIlzT
His innings ended on 123 off 46 balls, studded with 15 fours and eight sixes. Fellow opener JJ Smuts also contributed with a 53-ball 85, powering South Africa Champions to 241-6 in the first innings.
In Thursday's 41-ball century, De Villiers' unbeaten 51-ball 116 single-handedly chased down England Champions' 153-run target. Earlier in the competition, the 41-year-old also took a stunning boundary catch against India. He is also currently leading the run-scorers' chart in the competition, with scores of 3, 63*, 116*, 123.
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