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Tom Banton showcased his exceptional wicket-keeping skills with a spectacular catch to dismiss Leus du Plooy during The Hundred Men’s 2024 match on Saturday (August 10). The match, held at The Rose Bowl in Southampton, featured Trent Rockets taking on Southern Brave.
Tom Banton’s spectacular catch
The dismissal took place off the 44th delivery of the Brave’s run-chase, bowled by John Turner. Turner delivered a length ball on the leg stump, and du Plooy attempted to guide it fine towards the deep fine leg. However, the left-hander played the shot too finely, causing the ball to edge towards the wicketkeeper.
Reacting quickly, Banton executed a desperate dive to his left, covering significant ground to complete a sharp, one-handed catch. His effort behind the stumps not only dismissed a dangerous batter but also shifted the momentum of the game. The contrasting reactions from the bowler and the batter highlighted the significance of Banton’s catch, with Turner celebrating while du Plooy walked off in disbelief.
Here’s the video:
This diving catch 😱
What a take from Tom Banton!#TheHundred | #RoadToTheEliminator pic.twitter.com/x5v0YGltPy
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 10, 2024
Also READ: The Hundred Men’s 2024 – Broadcast and Live Streaming Details | When and where to watch in India, Australia, USA, UK, Caribbean & other countries
Trent Rockets set a competitive target with key contributions
Earlier, after choosing to bat first, the Rockets posted a total of 126/8 in their allotted 100 balls. The Rockets’ innings was built on handy contributions from Adam Lyth, Alex Hales, Joe Root, Rovman Powell and captain Lewis Gregory, all of whom reached double figures. Banton also impressed with the bat, scoring 30 runs off 17 balls at a strike rate of 176.47, including a six and three boundaries. Despite these efforts, the Rockets struggled to accelerate against a disciplined the Brave bowling attack.
Chris Jordan led the charge for the Brave with the ball, delivering a stellar performance with figures of 3/22. His efforts were complemented by Jofra Archer and Danny Briggs, who picked up two wickets each, putting the brakes on the Rockets’ scoring. The Brave bowlers were relentless, making it difficult for the Rockets to build momentum throughout their innings.
Kieron Pollard’s spectacular onslaught
The Brave’s innings faced early trouble as they found themselves struggling at 71/5 after just 70 balls. Despite decent starts from both Alex Davies (28 off 19) and captain James Vince (28 off 26), neither could convert their promising innings into substantial scores, leaving their team in a precarious situation. Trent Rockets’ bowlers, particularly John Turner, were relentless, with Turner already having claimed three crucial wickets by this stage.
Just when it seemed that the Brave might falter, Kieron Pollard stepped up with a breathtaking display of power hitting that turned the game on its head. Taking the initiative in the most critical moment, Pollard unleashed a devastating assault on the Rockets’ bowling attack. His fearless approach was epitomized by a memorable over against the world-class spinner Rashid Khan, where Pollard bludgeoned five consecutive sixes, leaving the opposition shell-shocked. Pollard innings ultimately led the Brave towards ultimately victory.
