Ben Stokes benefitted from a moment of fortune on the third day of the New Zealand-England Test at Mount Maunganui.
A ball after lifting Scott Kuggeleijn over the fine leg boundary for six to take the outright world record for the most sixes hit in Test cricket off his coach Brendon McCullum, Stokes attempted a similar shot the very next ball.
This time, he did not strike the ball quite as cleanly. Neil Wagner settled himself underneath the ball to take the catch but at the moment he caught the ball, his left foot was in contact with the boundary.
Wagner sought to readjust his footing but it was too late – Stokes picked up his 109th six in Test cricket. It was a moment that drew obvious comparison with Trent Boult’s ill-fated attempt at a catch on the boundary in the closing stages of the 2019 World Cup final.
You can watch Wagner’s failed attempt at the catch below:
A New Zealand left-arm seamer stepping on the rope while taking a catch off Ben Stokes – where have we seen that before? 🤔#NZvENGpic.twitter.com/JOC04kq2mG
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) February 18, 2023
