AB de Villiers reminded the world why he’s one of cricket’s greatest as he delivered a stunning last-ball fielding effort to guide South Africa Champions to the WCL 2025 final. At 41, de Villiers showed no signs of slowing down, sprinting across the field and throwing down the stumps to stop Australia’s final attempt at a tie-breaking run, giving South Africa a dramatic 1-run victory in the semifinal at Edgbaston.
With 3 runs needed off the last ball, Australia’s Dan Christian pushed a yorker from Wayne Parnell towards long-on and attempted to run two. But de Villiers dashed in, picked up cleanly, and fired in a direct hit to catch Nathan Coulter-Nile well short of his crease. That brilliant moment not only ended the match in South Africa’s favor but also sent them through to the final, where they’ll meet unbeaten Pakistan.
De Villiers Leads with Bat and in the Field
Though he didn’t contribute much with the bat in the semifinal, de Villiers continues to dominate the tournament with over 300 runs and two centuries, comfortably topping the WCL 2025 scoring charts. His consistency and athleticism have been central to South Africa’s success, with multiple highlight-worthy catches throughout the tournament.
Earlier in the game, JJ Smuts and Morne van Wyk’s explosive partnership helped South Africa post 186/8. Australia started strong with Chris Lynn and Shaun Marsh, but Parnell’s key breakthroughs halted their chase. Defending 14 in the final over, he kept his nerve, paving the way for de Villiers’ iconic finish.
South Africa now prepare for the final clash against Pakistan, who advanced after India’s withdrawal. With de Villiers in vintage form, fans can expect another classic showdown.
Stay tuned for all the latest Cricket news, match highlights, player analysis and viral moments!