Watch: Steve Smith played an ugly swipe across the line high into the air for Quinton de Kock to take a stunning diving catch in a potential game-changing moment for South Africa.

Steve Smith was playing Australia closer to their target in the second World Cup semi-final, after they suffered early losses early on in a chase of 213. South Africa’s spinners ripped through Australia’s batting lineup to leave them 137-5 in the 24th over.

However, Smith calmly set about accumulating the runs needed alongside Josh Inglis, the pair putting together a 37-run partnership off 59 balls. With the run rate not an issue for Australia, Smith was anchoring the side, and reached 30 off 62 balls.

Gerald Coetzee’s third over into the attack, though, spelt disaster for Smith. In a moment of madness, he tried to heave the pacer into the leg side, but got a massive top edge on the ball to balloon it up into the air.

Quinton de Kock immediately called for it and tracked the ball as it swirled in the night sky. Having barely had to move from his position behind the stumps, de Kock dived forward as the ball plummeted towards the ground, gathering it in both his gloves before it landed on the turf.

The South Africa players erupted in celebration in what seemed an immensely important moment in the match. Australia still needed 39 runs at the time of Smith’s dismissal, with Mitchell Starc the new batter at the crease.

Inglis was out six overs later to a straight yorker, again from Coetzee, spelling more jeopardy for Australia who still needed 20 runs at the time.

Watch: Steve Smith plays ugly pull to leave Australia in precarious position

 

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