Edgbaston: In one of the most pulsating encounters of the World Championship of Legends, the South Africa Champions clinched a nail-biting victory over the Australia Champions by a single run, booking their place in the tournament final. The semi-final at Edgbaston turned into a cricketing spectacle that ended with a dramatic last-ball run-out, masterminded by none other than the legendary AB de Villiers.
Batting first, South Africa posted a formidable total of 186 for 8, riding on the brilliance of openers JJ Smuts and Morne van Wyk. Despite the early dismissal of skipper de Villiers, the opening pair laid a strong foundation. Smuts played a composed knock of 57 runs off 41 deliveries, peppered with eight boundaries and a six. However, it was Van Wyk who truly lit up the innings with a whirlwind 76 off just 35 balls, smashing seven fours and five towering sixes, accelerating the Proteas to a commanding position.
The Australian reply began with promise. Chris Lynn and Shaun Marsh provided a solid start with a 45-run opening partnership. Lynn struck a quickfire 35 from 20 balls, while Marsh contributed 25 off 17. The middle order, led by D'Arcy Short (33 off 29), kept the chase alive, and Daniel Christian, coming in at number five, took the responsibility of steering the innings in the latter half.
Even as the South African bowlers chipped away with regular wickets, Christian’s composed knock helped Australia inch closer to the target. With just one over left, the Aussies required 14 runs to seal victory. The tension soared as Wayne Parnell took the ball for the final over.
The over began dramatically. Rob Quiney launched the first delivery into the stands for a six, cutting the target nearly in half. He then took a single, bringing Christian back on strike. A well-run double on the third ball put the pressure on South Africa. With five runs needed off three deliveries, Australia appeared to have the upper hand.
But the Proteas held their nerve. Two more runs off the next two balls meant Australia needed just three runs from the final delivery. In an unfortunate twist, Quiney, who had earlier retired hurt, was replaced by Nathan Coulter-Nile at the non-striker's end.
Christian, poised and focused, attempted to finish in style by lofting the ball over the bowler. However, the shot lacked power. As the batsmen scrambled for a second run, it was de Villiers, stationed at long-off, who gathered the ball with lightning speed and fired it back with precision. Coulter-Nile, trying to complete the second run, fell short as de Villiers dismantled the stumps at the non-striker's end in a brilliant act of athleticism and awareness.
The packed Edgbaston crowd erupted as South Africa pulled off a sensational one-run victory, leaving the Australian dugout shell-shocked. The win propels the Proteas into the final of the Legends tournament, where they will now clash with Pakistan Champions setting up a classic showdown of cricketing giants.
For South Africa, it was a moment of redemption and nostalgia a match where legends proved they still had the spark. For AB de Villiers, it was another chapter of genius etched into cricketing folklore.