Proteas leg-spinner Imran Tahir dismissed former national captain AB de Villiers during Tuesday’s T20 Blast fixture between Surrey and Middlesex at The Oval in London.

De Villiers fell for just three, after being adjudged out lbw by umpire Nigel Llong in the wake of an unsuccessful switch-hit.

Middlesex won the match despite De Villiers’ low score. Former Boland batsman Dawid Malan struck a superb century in triumph for the hosts.

Last week De Villiers made a superb Middlesex debut with a characteristically brisk half-century in the victory over Essex at Lord’s in London.

Pursuing a 165-run target, Middlesex triumphed with 18 deliveries to spare on the back of De Villiers’ 88 not out.

The prolific right-hander’s stay spanned a mere 43 deliveries, and featured a quintet of fours and sextet of sixes.

He was particularly fruitful against former Proteas spinner Simon Harmer, who went without a wicket and conceded 38 runs across three expensive overs.

The 35-year-old De Villiers retired from international cricket last year and has since played in the Indian Premier League, Mzansi Super League, Pakistan Super League and Bangladesh Premier League.

He relished a solid stretch of form during the 2019 IPL, which effectively prompted aspiration to return for the Proteas ahead of the World Cup in the United Kingdom.

‘I had been in decent form during the Indian Premier League and casually repeated what I had said when asked a year earlier, that I was available if required, but only if required. I made absolutely no demands at all,’ said De Villiers earlier this month.

‘I certainly did not try to force my way into the World Cup squad on the eve of the tournament – and did not expect to be included. There was no burning issue from my side, and no sense of injustice.’

De Villiers, however, was not selected for the global tournament, during which South Africa won just three of nine matches and finished in seventh position across the 10-team standings.