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When "Wall" AB De Villiers Denied Australia Victory With A 220-Ball Battle In Adelaide

Akshita Patel

Throwback to AB De Villiers' special Test knock [Source: @TheYorkerBall/X.com]Throwback to AB De Villiers' special Test knock [Source: @TheYorkerBall/X.com]

In the famous 2012 Adelaide Test between Australia and South Africa, one name stood tall against the mighty Aussie attack, AB de Villiers. Stepping away from his usual aggressive self, de Villiers did the exact opposite this time by playing a gritty knock to save his side from defeat.

The first inning was dominated by Michael Clarke, who hit 230 off 257 balls, followed by a hundred from Michael Hussey. Australia posted 550 runs in the first inning, while South Africa succumbed to 388 in the second inning.

With a sizeable lead in hand, Australia declared the third inning at 267, thus setting up a 430-run target for South Africa in the fourth inning.

AB De Villiers Turned Into A Defensive Wall To Save South Africa

In the fourth inning, South Africa were in deep trouble. Wickets were falling quickly, and the pitch was turning tricky. But AB de Villiers, walking in at 45/4, had one thing on his mind, save the Test match.

He batted for 220 balls, spending over 5 hours at the crease, and scored just 33 runs. That’s a strike rate of just 15.00, the slowest innings of his career. 

Yet, it was one of his most important and courageous knocks. He didn’t hit a single boundary. He simply defended, left, and blocked everything Australia threw at him.

His incredible resistance allowed Faf du Plessis, who scored a match-saving 110*, to settle in and build a partnership that ultimately helped South Africa draw the Test. While Faf was named the Player of the Match, de Villiers’ effort was equally vital.

This innings proved that AB de Villiers was not just a flashy batter with big shots. He was a complete player, someone who could adapt his game according to the team’s needs. 

The draw in the 2nd Test helped the Proteas with momentum as they beat Australia by 309 runs in the third Test to claim a 1-0 series win.