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BIRMINGHAM: South Africa Champions edge past Australia Champions in a last-ball thriller to reach the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 final here at Edgbaston on Thursday.
Chasing a 187-run target, Australia Champions fought hard but eventually fell one run short, scoring 185-7 in their 20 overs.
Australia Champions started strongly in pursuit of the target, putting up a 45-run stand in just 4.3 overs. Chris Lynn was the core aggressor, scoring 35 off 20 balls with the aid of four boundaries and a six.
However, Wayne Parnell provided the much-needed breakthrough, breaking the partnership with Lynn’s wicket.
Shaun Marsh, on the other hand, continued on his merry way and stitched together a crucial stand with D’Arcy Short to steady the Australia champions in the chase.
The southpaw made 25 from 17, striking a six and two fours before getting dismissed as Australia Champions were reduced to 71-2 in eight overs.
With the next wicket, Ben Dunk (12 off 11 balls) falling in the 12th over, Australia Champions needed a partnership, and they found one with Short and Daniel Christian stitching together a 33-run stand.
Both batters kept Australia afloat in the chase; however, D’Arcy Short was removed after scoring 33 off 29 deliveries.
South Africa Champions fought back in the last stage of the innings, taking wickets at crucial intervals to jolt the opposition’s progress.
The game eventually turned out to be a cliff hanger with Australia Champions requiring 14 off the last over to seal a spot in the WCL 2025 final.
Rob Quiney struck Wayne Parnell for a six on the first ball of the over to balance the equation; however, he and Christian both failed to manage to hit a boundary on the next few balls.
As a result, three runs were required from one ball and set batter Daniel Christian on the crease.
He struck the ball down the ground, and it looked like a definite two runs, but a brilliant throw from AB De Villiers at the bowler’s end resulted in a run out and sealed a memorable win for South Africa Champions.
Earlier, Morne van Wyk and JJ Smuts’ knocks propelled South Africa Champions to a strong total against Australia Champions.
Opting to bat first, South Africa Champions posted 186-8 in their allocated 20 overs.
The Proteas started poorly in the crucial encounter, losing their inform batter AB de Villiers only in the second over. He made six from four balls as South Africa Champions were 13-1.
However, following the early dismissal, Morne van Wyk and JJ Smuts partnered for a 112-run stand. Both batters notched up half-centuries and powered South Africa Champions to 124 in only 12 overs.
Daniel Christian provided the Australia Champions with a much-needed breakthrough, removing Smuts, who made 57 runs from 41 balls, striking eight fours and a six.
After a solid platform from the top-order, the Proteas failed to capitalize in the latter half of the innings, losing wickets at a crucial time.
Morne van Wyk top-scored for South Africa Champions with 76 from 35 balls, peppered with seven fours and five maximums.
For Australia Champions, Peter Siddle starred with the ball, taking a four-wicket haul for 30 runs in his quota of four overs.
READ: South Africa win toss against Australia in WCL 2025 semi-final
