Even though it’s been four years since AB de Villiers bid farewell to competitive cricket, the South African maestro proved in Northampton that class truly is permanent. Playing in a veterans’ T20 match between India Champions and South Africa Champions, the 41-year-old lit up the County Ground with a dazzling all-round performance that reminded fans of his heyday.
His brilliance with both bat and in the field earned him the Player of the Match award as South Africa thumped India by 88 runs. AB de Villiers turned back the clock with a vintage knock — a blistering 63 off just 30 balls, laced with three boundaries and four towering sixes.
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His innings laid the foundation for a formidable total of 208/6, well-supported by cameos from JJ Smuts (30 off 17) and Morne van Wyk (18* off 5). However, the standout moment of the match came in the field. Indian batter Yusuf Pathan appeared to have cleared the boundary with a powerful lofted drive off Imran Tahir, only for de Villiers to produce a moment of magic at wide long-off.
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Sprinting across, he completed a sliding stop near the ropes, brilliantly relayed the ball mid-slide to Sarel Erwee before tumbling over the cushions. Erwee followed it up with a diving grab to complete an extraordinary relay catch. The third umpire reviewed the effort, but replays confirmed de Villiers had released the ball just in time, dismissing Pathan for 5.
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India Champions, led by Yuvraj Singh, crumbled early in the chase, losing four wickets inside the Powerplay. With key players like Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina pulling out due to geopolitical concerns, the team lacked depth. Stuart Binny was the only bright spot, scoring 37 off 39, but the rest faltered against Aaron Phangiso’s sharp left-arm spin (3/17), as India ended with just 111/9. It was a humbling start for the defending champions, while de Villiers’ magic ensured a flying start for South Africa.
