Watch: Ollie Pope pulls off ‘almost unbelievable’ blinder at silly point, Daryl Mitchell gasps in awe
Watch: Ollie Pope, positioned at silly point, pulled off an outrageous one-handed blinder from point-blank during the second day of the New Zealand-England Wellington Test.
Earlier in the day, England declared on 435-8 declared with Joe Root unbeaten on 153, even as his overnight batting partner Harry Brook could add only two runs, falling on 186. In response, James Anderson rattled the hosts’ top order, while Jack Leach took three wickets as well, two of which were courtesy of brilliant reflexes from Pope at silly point.
The Leach-Pope pair first combined to send back Henry Nicholls, whose attempted reverse sweep could only lob towards Pope, who dived to his left for a stunning reflex grab. Arguably, it wasn’t even his finest catch of the day.
In the 33rd over, Jack Leach’s loopy delivery was met with a forward prod from Daryl Mitchell. In a flash, Pope sprung from his squatting position and gobbled it up with one hand. It was incredible for the lightning-quick reflexes on show, as well as the vicinity of Pope to the stroke β he took the catch with one knee on the pitch.
“That is almost unbelievable, but your eyes are not deceiving you,” said the commentator.
Mitchell himself was left stunned, gasping in awe as Pope completed the catch and was surrounded by his teammates.
Watch the Pope catch to dismiss Mitchell:
What on earth π€―
This is π¨π‘ππππππ©ππππ from Ollie Pope π₯
The perfect to finish the session! #NZvENG pic.twitter.com/hehHIe5UO0
— Cricket on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) February 25, 2023
His catch to dismiss Henry Nicholls earlier:
It's that man again π€©
Leachy with another breakthrough after Ollie Pope's fantastic reactions π₯
Henry Nicholls is gone for 30… #NZvENG pic.twitter.com/n8cTfDfIQd
— Cricket on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) February 25, 2023
