Australia Pacer John Hastings Bowls an 18-Ball Over in WCL 2025 Custodial Collapse

In an extraordinary twist during the final group-stage match of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025, former Australian quick John Hastings delivered one of the most outrageous overs ever seen in professional cricket: an 18-ball over, comprising 12 wides and one no-ball, before the match abruptly concluded amidst Pakistan’s chase.

The match had already heavily tilted in Pakistan’s favour—with Saeed Ajmal tearing through Australia’s batting for 6/16, leading to a ten-wicket rout inside 11.5 overs. When Pakistan chased the target of 75 with more than seven overs remaining, skipper Brett Lee turned to Hastings in a desperate bid to break the momentum. Instead, what followed was complete nausea-inducing mayhem.

Over Breakdown: A Lesson in Wildness

Hastings started with five consecutive wides and failed to find his rhythm across the next 13 deliveries despite switching angles and tactics:

• Only 5 legitimate balls were delivered.
   
• The over included a no-ball, a run scored, multiple wides down leg and off stump, and even a leg-bye that briefly changed the strike.
   
• Pakistan sealed the chase during the over, making the match finish before the over was completed on paper.
   

At 39, Hastings' error-packed over leaves a lasting mark—not for wickets or heroics, but for chaos and frustration.

Why This Exaggerated Over Matters

Key Impact	Insight
Historic rarity	An 18-ball over with 12 wides is unheard of in T20, even in legends cricket
Demoralising moment	It made a formality of Pakistan’s chase, underscoring Australia’s collapse
Unexpected legacy beat	Maintains headlines as much as Ajmal’s devastating spell earlier in the game

This bizarre incident amplified an already lopsided contest—and guaranteed that journalists and fans will remember this over long after the tournament ends.