SAC VS AAC 2ND SEMI FINAL

Right then, that is it from a thrilling semi-final here in Edgbaston. A last-ball thriller is something every cricket fan hopes to watch and boy, that was some game of cricket. So, the two finalists are now locked in as Pakistan Champions will take on South Africa Champions on Saturday, 2nd August at 9 pm IST (3.30 PM GMT) in the big final. As always, you can join us early for all the build-up. Cheers!

South Africa Champions captain, AB de Villiers starts off by saying that Binga is not done. Adds that it is fantastic win and what a day of cricket and goes on to credit the Aussies for the way they played. Adds that he put himself into the shoes of the Aussie batter and thought about what he wouldn't have wanted to face. He says that he is happy with how things played out and with the weather cooling off, it might have gotten just a bit better for batting, but credit to the Australian batters. On his catch, he says that it wasn't easy and with the wind, his head was bobbling and he reckons that he was lucky to hold onto that one. On the final delivery, ABD says that he has a bit of a hamstring niggle and jokes about the Aussies knowing about that injury, but says that one should never go after a winded buffalo and he managed to execute it. Says that as Proteas, they pride themselves on being resilient and also adds that they knew they had lost to Australia in plenty of semifinals and it is nice to get one back. On Pakistan, he says that they are probably the most consistent team in the tournament and both teams will give it their all.

Bret Lee, Australia Champions skipper, is down for a chat. On the thrilling contest, he says his team was right there until the last ball, but it didn’t end well for them and adds that this is how T20 cricket goes. On asked about going into the break with momentum on their side, he agrees but feels that SA champions put on a competitive score and also praises South Africa Champions bowlers for the way they bowled in defending the total. He says this was his last game and he would hang up his boots. He thanks the organizers and ends the chat by saying he will be back in the next season in some other capacity.

Wayne Parnell is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his stellar spell. Parnell says that this is what he has lived for his entire career and is glad to be on the winning side for once. Adds that he didn't expect Rob Quiney to charge him first ball but had plans for the next 5 balls. Goes on to credit the Aussie batters for making a real match out of it and the conversation with AB de Villiers for the final over was regarding stopping boundaries and also about executing better than the batter. Further adds that it is a great feeling to play once again with and against players he used to and the banter is also amazing, with the pressure not being as high as it used to be.

The Presentation ceremony...

We are just moments away from the presentation ceremony and for all of South Africa's short-comings against Australia in big knockout games, their recent record has seen significant improvement, since the 2023 ODI World Cup semifnal. 2024 Women's T20 World Cup semifinal - SA knocked out Australia2025 Women's Under-19 T20 World Cup semifinal - South Africa knocked out Australia2025 World Test Championship final - South Africa beat Australia2025 World Championship Of Legends - South Africa knocked out Australia!!!

Earlier in the game, on the back of JJ Smuts and Morne van Wyk's valiant 111-run stand, the South African Champions reached 186. In fact, at one point when the duo of JJ Smuts and Morne van Wyk were going strong and 200 looked well in sight, the South Africa Champions' innings fell apart towards the fag end as they scored just 27 runs in the last 4 overs, losing four wickets. For the Australia Champions, Peter Siddle was the pick of the bowlers, as he finished with figures of 4-0-30-4, taking three wickets in the last over.

Many batters got starts in the Australia Champions batting lineup, but except for Dan Christian, none of them crossed the 40-run mark. Lynn started on a positive note yet again, as he played a good cameo of 35 upfront. But then there was a lull period as batters found it hard to get going in the middle overs. Dan Christian came in with 89 required of 52 balls, and boy, didn't he give it his all, but eventually, the Australian champions fell short by just one. For South Africa Champions, Hardus Viljoen and Wayne Parnell picked up two-fers, but the latter in particular did a tremendous job of bowling the last over as he held his nerves. JP Duminy, too, bowled a very decent economical spell of 4-0-25-0, containing runs in the middle overs.

An incredible game of Cricket comes to an end here in Edgbaston, Birmingham. A semi-final that has lived up to the expectations, as it went right till the last ball of the game. In the end, it's the South Africa Champions who make it through to the finals of the World Championship of Legends 2025. Anyone remember Birmingham 1999? The same ground that gave South Africa one of its biggest cricketing nightmares, it was a semifinal against Australia that ended up in a Tie and now, we nearly witnessed another Tie. Allan Donald, the man who was run out with the scores tied in the '99 WC semifinal, will have a bittersweet memory as being the coach of South Africa Champions, they have got one over the Aussies in a knockout game.

OUT! Nathan Coulter-Nile is RUN OUT! What a finish! Ice in his veins and AB de Villiers has done it for his team, a save earlier in the over and now, a telling throw that takes South Africa Champions into the Final. Full and right at the toes, Dan Christian comes down the track and jams it into the turf, down to long on. The batters push hard for two and Coulter-Nile tries his best to get back but ABD fires in a perfect throw at the bowling end where Wayne Parnell collects it just before he dislodges the bails and the replays do confirm that he had the ball in hand when the bails came off. Heartbreak for Australia and Dan Christian, who gave it his all and remained unbeaten on 49. South Africa Champions WIN BY 1 RUN!

OUT! Nathan Coulter-Nile is RUN OUT! What a finish! Ice in his veins and AB de Villiers has done it for his team, a save earlier in the over and now, a telling throw that takes South Africa Champions into the Final. Full and right at the toes, Dan Christian comes down the track and jams it into the turf, down to long on. The batters push hard for two and Coulter-Nile tries his best to get back but ABD fires in a perfect throw at the bowling end where Wayne Parnell collects it just before he dislodges the bails and the replays do confirm that he had the ball in hand when the bails came off. Heartbreak for Australia and Dan Christian, who gave it his all and remained unbeaten on 49. South Africa Champions WIN BY 1 RUN!

Oh, no! Rob Quiney seems to have pulled a muscle or something and is seen hobbling off. Quiney is retired hurt and in comes Nathan Coulter-Nile, who will be at the non-striker's end.

Top stuff! Full and straight at the stumps, Rob Quiney tries to back away but has to reach out and squeeze it through covers for one.

Full and outside off, pushed out into the off side for just a single.

Full again, at the legs, Dan Christian flicks it away wide of deep mid-wicket and races back for the second run.

Full and outside off, Rob Quiney drives it up and over extra cover. AB de Villiers hares to his right from long off and slides in to keep it down to a single.

SIX! Oh, what a shot! Short of a length and over off, Rob Quiney wanders down the pitch and checks his shot, ends up lofting it over cow corner for a six. Just the start Australi would have wanted to the final over.