Australian superstar Steve Smith is widely known for his insane fielding skills and he often takes stunning catches in the slip cordon. The former Australia skipper once again rose to the occasion as he grabbed a screamer to dismiss Indian icon Virat Kohli on Day 5 of the World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval in London.
The incident took place in the 47th over of India’s second innings when Kohli tried to drive a wide delivery from Scott Boland but ended up getting a thick edge. The ball swiftly flew beyond the second slip, but with his jaw-dropping instincts, Smith dived to his right and fully stretched both hands to grab a spectacular catch.
Here is the video:
Rockstar Smith pic.twitter.com/C6W0JJ6xm2
— IPL (@WatchIPLvideos) June 11, 2023
Kohli fell one short (49 off 78) of what could be a fighting half-century. Shortly after his dismissal, Team India faced another setback when Boland also took the wicket of Ravindra Jadeja, leaving Ajinkya Rahane struggling at one end of the game.
Australia fielders with most catches in Test cricket:
- 196 – Ricky Ponting
- 181 – Mark Waugh
- 157 – Steve Smith
- 157 – Mark Taylor
- 156 – Allan Border
The Australian pacers have once again showcased their resilience and dedication in pursuit of the prestigious WTC title. As the trouble was not enough, Rahane was also dismissed for a well-made 46 off 108 deliveries by Mitchell Starc.
After 58 overs in their second innings, India were 213/7, with Umesh Yadav (0) and Srikar Bharat (17) in the middle. India still need 231 runs to win which looks nearly impossible for them.