At Port Elizabeth in 2006, AB de Villiers produced a “freakish” run out, bamboozling Simon Katich with his athleticism and ingenuity.

One of the unfortunate knock-on effects of Mark Boucher’s enforced retirement was the handing over of the gloves to AB de Villiers. In one flicking of an errant bail we were shorn of a legendary keeper-batsman and the game’s most outrageous, match-winning fielder. Those webbed gloves may as well be handcuffs.

Some will argue that what we lose with de Villiers we make up for with Faf du Plessis; a small pocket even have the temerity to argue that Faf is superior. To them, let’s offer this moment.

Inspired into cricket after watching Jonty Rhodes’ ‘Superman’ run out in the 1992 World Cup, his run-out of Simon Katich from extra cover in the third ODI at Port Elizabeth will have encouraged his own cult of wannabes.

Of course there was luck involved. That anyone could contort their body after a clean pick-up on the move – to their weaker side, no less – and throw over their opposite shoulder, mid-roll, and hit a one stump target is, as Mike Haysman said on commentary at the time, “freakish”.

Fitting, really. You’d be hard pressed to find a better word than “freak” to describe AB de Villiers’ exploits with the bat or at cover-point. Oh, and he’s an exceptional fly-half, golfer, and Christian prog-rocker to boot.

This particular series is best known for South Africa’s successful chase of an unreal 434 target, with just one wicket in hand – a fitting climax to a series littering with flashes of brilliance, such as this.

By the end of the third Power Play – 20 overs in old rule speak – Australia had nurdled to 82-1 against some tight bowling that lacked cutting edge.

As Ricky Ponting foraged, Katich began targeting Andrew Hall. Taking eight runs off Hall’s fifth over – four sharp singles and a Katich boundary – the crabby left-hander attempted more of the same in Hall’s sixth.

Stepping inside the line of a good length ball, Katich pushed Hall between cover and mid-off and set off for a single that was much less ridiculous than what was about to follow. AB, running around from orthodox cover, sprawled forth to control the ball instantly, before rolling, cocking his right arm and throw a curving effort over his left shoulder into the stumps.

By the time de Villiers had released the ball, Katich had slowed down, mesmerised by the athleticism and ingenuity of his opponent, who had returned to an upright state, albeit on his knees, to watch his work come good.

Katich didn’t wait around and de Villiers didn’t milk it, as he was mobbed by his astounded teammates.

First published in January 2014