Friday, June 12
AB de Villiers, at 41 and battling a hamstring injury, delivered a stunning unbeaten 120 off 60 balls, leading South Africa Champions to a dominant 9-wicket victory over Pakistan Champions in the WCL 2025 final. His explosive innings, supported by JP Duminy's quickfire 50*, secured the win and earned him Player of the Match and Tournament honours.
Joe Root's resilient half-century on Day 4 of the fifth Test against India at The Oval bolstered England's chase, equaling Herbie Taylor's record with 16 fifty-plus scores against an opponent in home Tests. Root, alongside Harry Brook, stabilized England's innings after early wickets, steering them towards a potential series-clinching victory.
Akash Deep's resilient 66 as nightwatchman on Day 3 of the Oval Test significantly boosted India's position. His crucial century stand with Yashasvi Jaiswal stabilized the innings, contributing to India's 396 total. Akash revealed his overnight determination to contribute meaningfully, emphasizing his resolve not to carelessly lose his wicket in the 2nd innings.
Ricky Ponting slammed Mohammed Siraj for dropping Harry Brook's catch, which resulted in a six, during the crucial final hour of the morning session on Day 4. Brook's aggressive counterattack, drawing comparisons to Rishabh Pant, shifted the momentum back to England after India initially gained control by taking early wickets. The match witnessed a seesaw battle between the two teams.
Tension gripped The Oval as India and England battled in the final Test. Zak Crawley's attempts to disrupt Mohammed Siraj backfired when Siraj bowled him with a stunning yorker just before stumps. Earlier, Yashasvi Jaiswal's century and valuable contributions from Akash Deep, Jadeja, and Sundar propelled India to 396, setting England a target of 374.
South Africa Champions clinched the WCL 2025 title, defeating Pakistan Champions by 9 wickets in a dominant final performance highlighted by AB de Villiers' explosive 120*. However, India Champions' controversial withdrawal from the semi-final against Pakistan, due to undisclosed reasons, sparked debate. Suresh Raina asserted that India would have won, emphasizing national priorities over the game.
Harry Brook's aggressive batting display in the fifth Test at The Oval drew comparisons to Rishabh Pant, as noted by Ravi Shastri. Brook's fearless approach shifted the game's momentum, unsettling India's bowlers and injecting energy into England's chase. His counter-attack, marked by audacious shots and a bit of luck, proved crucial for England.
