Watch: Sri Lanka wicketkeeper Sadeera Samarawickrama took an astonishing catch way down the leg-side after spotting Afghanistan No.3 Rahmat Shah moving into position to play a fine sweep shot.
Shah had played Afghanistan’s key hand on the first day, moving to within nine runs of his century even as the rest of the batting line-up struggled. Opener Noor Ali Zadran was the next highest scorer in the top six with 31.
Shah, who already has a Test century, looked to move closer to his second when he moved to play a paddle sweep, and made good connection, hitting the ball down and towards fine leg. However, Samarawickrama had anticipated the stroke, already taking a couple of steps to the leg-side at the point of contact and then grasping the ball in his left glove.
The catch was somewhat reminiscent of one of the most famous pieces of wicketkeeping of all time, Sarah Taylor’s flying anticipatory catch to dismiss Jodie Fields in the 2013 Ashes.
Watch Samarawickrama’s stunning take below:
Phenomenal take by Sadeera Samarawickrama to dismiss Rahmat Shah 🥵 #SLvAFG pic.twitter.com/58O6FVHLAE
— Estelle Vasudevan (@Estelle_Vasude1) February 2, 2024
