South African great AB de Villiers has been unstoppable in the World Championship of Legends, delivering a spectacular run of innings. Over three consecutive matches, he has scored an unbeaten 63 off 30 balls, an unbeaten 116 off 51 balls, and a blazing 123 off just 46 deliveries.
At Headingley on Sunday, de Villiers played a devastating 123-run innings against the Australia Champions, smashing 15 fours and 8 sixes. The 41-year-old star reached his century in a mere 39 balls.
In the previous match against the England Champions, he had already dazzled with an unbeaten 116 off 51 balls, including 7 sixes and 15 fours.
Batting first after winning the toss against Australia, the South Africa Champions got off to a strong start. After two singles in the first two balls, de Villiers launched a six off the third ball. By the eighth over, facing pacer Peter Siddle, he had reached his fifty off just 22 balls, hitting a sequence of a four and two sixes in three consecutive deliveries. The next fifty came in only 17 balls.
During the thirteenth over, on his way to the century, de Villiers unleashed a flurry of shots against spinner D’Arcy, hitting four fours and a six in five balls. In the following over, after a four off Siddle, he was caught, ending his explosive innings.
De Villiers retired from international cricket in 2018 and stepped away from professional cricket almost four years ago. Yet, his form on the field remains as electrifying as ever.
Although he started this tournament slowly—scoring only 3 runs off 4 balls batting at number three against the West Indies Champions—he has since unleashed a barrage of runs.
In the second match against the India Champions, batting at number four, he smashed 61 not out off 30 balls, including 3 sixes and 4 fours. In the following two matches, opening the innings, he hit back-to-back centuries.
Against Australia, South Africa posted a massive total of 241 for 6 wickets in their 20 overs, thanks largely to de Villiers’ extraordinary performance.
