SA Champions vs AUS Champions Review: AB de Villiers’ 37-Ball Century Seals Record 210 Chase in Sharjah
SA Champions vs AUS Champions Review: AB de Villiers’ 37-Ball Century Seals Record 210 Chase in Sharjah
AB de Villiers produced a vintage display of 360-degree batting, smashing an unbeaten 111 off just 40 balls to power South Africa Champions to an eight-wicket victory over Australia Champions in the World Championship of Legends 2026 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Chasing 210, De Villiers reached his century in a staggering 37 deliveries — the fastest in WCL history — hitting 11 sixes and six fours at a strike rate of 277.50. Richard Levi’s 62 and D’Arcy Short’s 66 for Australia were the other notable contributions in a match that saw South Africa complete the chase in just 15.4 overs.
AB de Villiers celebrates his 37-ball century — the fastest in World Championship of Legends history.
Key Takeaways – The Sharjah Blitz
- 🏏 ABD’s Fastest WCL Century: AB de Villiers reached his century in just 37 balls, the fastest in WCL history, finishing unbeaten on 111 off 40 balls with 11 sixes and six fours.Source: Crex
- ⭐ Record 210 Chase in 15.4 Overs: South Africa Champions completed the chase of 210 with 26 balls to spare, the fastest successful chase in WCL 2026.Source: SA Cricket Mag
- 🔥 Richard Levi’s Supporting Act: Levi smashed 62 off 29 balls, sharing a 127-run partnership with De Villiers off just 49 balls.Source: ABP Live
- 💪 D’Arcy Short’s Counterattack: The Australian opener smashed 66 off 25 balls with seven fours and five sixes, but his efforts went in vain.Source: CricTracker
- 📊 SA Champions Go Top: With this win, South Africa Champions moved to the top of the WCL 2026 points table with two wins from two matches.Source: ABP Live
📋 Match Overview
- Match: South Africa Champions vs Australia Champions, 7th Match, WCL 2026
- Date: October 9, 2026 (Friday)
- Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
- Toss: Australia Champions won the toss and elected to bat firstSource: News18
- Result: South Africa Champions won by 8 wickets
- Player of the Match: AB de Villiers (111* off 40 balls)Source: SA Cricket Mag
📊 Full Scorecard – SA Champions vs AUS Champions
🇦🇺 Australia Champions – 209/5 (20 overs)
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Warner (c) | 48 | 37 | 5 | 2 | 129.73 |
| Usman Khawaja | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 112.50 |
| D’Arcy Short | 66 | 25 | 7 | 5 | 264.00 |
| Joe Burns | 38* | 25 | 1 | 3 | 152.00 |
| Ben Dunk | 27 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 192.85 |
| Callum Ferguson | 12 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 150.00 |
Extras: 9 (lb 2, w 7) · Total: 209/5 (RR: 10.45) · Fall of wickets: 1-14 (Khawaja, 2.2 ov), 2-95 (Short, 8.4 ov), 3-145 (Warner, 13.4 ov), 4-184 (Dunk, 17.2 ov), 5-200 (Ferguson, 19.1 ov)Source: CricTracker
🇿🇦 South Africa Champions Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imran Tahir | 4 | 0 | 34 | 2 | 8.50 |
| Marchant de Lange | 4 | 0 | 38 | 1 | 9.50 |
| Hardus Viljoen | 4 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 10.50 |
| Aaron Phangiso | 4 | 0 | 46 | 0 | 11.50 |
| JP Duminy | 4 | 0 | 47 | 0 | 11.75 |
🇿🇦 South Africa Champions – 210/2 (15.4 overs)
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faf du Plessis | 9 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 128.57 |
| Richard Levi | 62 | 29 | 6 | 4 | 213.79 |
| AB de Villiers (c) | 111* | 40 | 6 | 11 | 277.50 |
| JP Duminy | 19* | 12 | 2 | 0 | 158.33 |
Extras: 9 (lb 1, w 8) · Total: 210/2 (RR: 13.40) · Fall of wickets: 1-12 (du Plessis, 1.6 ov), 2-139 (Levi, 9.1 ov)Source: CricTracker
🇦🇺 Australia Champions Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Hazlewood | 4 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 10.50 |
| Pat Cummins | 4 | 0 | 54 | 1 | 13.50 |
| Mitchell Starc | 3 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 13.66 |
| Adam Zampa | 3 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 12.66 |
| Nathan Lyon | 1.4 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 20.40 |
📝 Match Report – How ABD Conquered Sharjah
Australia’s Strong Start
Australia Champions won the toss and elected to bat, a decision that looked justified as David Warner (48 off 37) and D’Arcy Short put on a quickfire 81-run partnership for the second wicket. Short was particularly destructive, smashing 66 off just 25 balls with seven fours and five sixes, taking the attack to the South African bowlers.Source: CricTracker
Imran Tahir (2/34) provided the breakthrough, dismissing Short and later Warner, while Marchant de Lange and Hardus Viljoen chipped in with a wicket each. Joe Burns’ unbeaten 38 off 25 balls helped Australia post a competitive 209/5.Source: CricTracker
ABD’s Masterclass
Chasing 210, South Africa Champions lost Faf du Plessis early for 9. But that brought AB de Villiers to the crease, and what followed was pure carnage. The 42-year-old took a few balls to settle, then launched an assault that left the Australian bowlers shell-shocked.Source: ABP Live
De Villiers raced to his fifty in 23 balls, then exploded to reach his century in just 37 deliveries — the fastest in WCL history. He smashed 11 sixes and six fours, finishing unbeaten on 111 off 40 balls at a strike rate of 277.50. His partnership with Richard Levi (62 off 29) yielded 127 runs off just 49 balls.Source: ABP Live
JP Duminy provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 19 off 12 balls as South Africa completed the chase in just 15.4 overs, winning by eight wickets with 26 balls to spare.Source: SA Cricket Mag
⭐ AB de Villiers – The Complete Highlights
🏆 ABD’s Innings in Numbers
- Runs: 111* off 40 balls
- Strike Rate: 277.50
- Boundaries: 11 sixes, 6 fours
- Fifty: 23 balls
- Century: 37 balls (fastest in WCL history)
- Last 17 balls: 61 runs
- Partnership with Levi: 127 runs off 49 balls
De Villiers’ innings was a masterclass in 360-degree batting. He hit sixes all around the wicket — over long-on, deep midwicket, third man, and even behind square. His signature scoop shots were on full display, and the Australian bowlers had no answer to his genius.Source: News18
His family — wife Danielle and children — were seen jumping with joy in the stands as De Villiers brought up his century. It was a moment that reminded everyone why he is called “Mr. 360.”Source: News18
🏆 Records Broken & Milestones
- Fastest Century in WCL History: AB de Villiers reached his century in 37 balls, the fastest in the tournament’s history.Source: Crex
- Highest Individual Score in WCL 2026: De Villiers’ 111* is the highest individual score of the tournament so far.Source: SA Cricket Mag
- Most Sixes in an Innings (WCL 2026): 11 sixes by De Villiers.Source: ABP Live
- Fastest Successful Chase in WCL 2026: South Africa chased 210 in 15.4 overs.Source: SA Cricket Mag
- Highest 2nd-Wicket Partnership for SA Champions: De Villiers and Levi’s 127-run stand.Source: ABP Live
📊 WCL 2026 Points Table (After Match 7)
| Pos | Team | M | W | L | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇿🇦 South Africa Champions | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +4.850 |
| 2 | 🏴 England Champions | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +1.524 |
| 3 | 🇮🇳 India Champions | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | — |
| 4 | 🇦🇺 Australia Champions | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — |
| 5 | 🇵🇰 Pakistan Champions | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 6 | 🇧🇩 Bangladesh Champions | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
Source: CricTrackerSource: CricTracker
🗣️ Expert Reactions – What They Said
🗣️ Senior Journalist’s Verdict – The Greatest T20 Innings You’ll Ever See
My Take: AB de Villiers Is Still the Most Destructive Batter in the World
Age is just a number, and AB de Villiers proved it once again. At 42, against a bowling attack featuring Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Adam Zampa, he produced an innings that defied belief. A 37-ball century in a chase of 210. A strike rate of 277.50. Eleven sixes. This was not just a great innings — it was arguably the greatest T20 innings ever played.
What made it even more special was the context. South Africa had lost Faf du Plessis early. The required rate was over 10 an over from the start. And yet, De Villiers never looked rushed. He took his time initially, scoring just 3 runs off his first 6 balls. Then he flicked a switch. The next 34 balls yielded 108 runs. That is the mark of a genius.
Richard Levi deserves immense credit for his 62 off 29 balls. His partnership with De Villiers was the platform for the chase, and his aggressive approach allowed ABD to settle in. JP Duminy’s finishing touch was the icing on the cake.
For Australia, it was a night to forget. Their bowlers had no answer to De Villiers’ range of shots. Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood — three of the best pacers of their generation — were taken apart. D’Arcy Short’s 66 off 25 balls was a lone highlight in an otherwise disappointing outing.
South Africa Champions are now firmly on top of the WCL 2026 points table. With De Villiers in this kind of form, they look unstoppable. The tournament is theirs to lose.
— Editorial Team, CricLive.in
📰 Sources
- CricTracker — Full scorecard, match report, points table
- SA Cricket Mag — Match report, records
- ABP Live — Match report, ABD’s innings
- Crex — Records, match report
- News18 — Match report, family reaction
- ESPNcricinfo — Scorecard, statistics
- India TV News — Match report
- Times Now Hindi — Match report
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