Watch: Pakistan batter Haider Ali pulled off a sensational catch at second slip to dismiss Michael Jones during Derbyshire’s County Championship Division Two encounter against Durham.
Durham had gotten off to a decent start, with their opening partnership of Alex Lees and Jones registering a 63-run stand. Three quick wickets, though, reduced them to 89-3. Jones then joined with wicket-keeper Ollie Robinson and the pair put on 37 before the former was dismissed by Ben Aitchison.
The ball pitched on a back of a length outside off stump. Jones threw his hands at the ball but could not control his stroke, and the ball flew off the outside edge. At first, it seemed that the ball would fly past the cordon too, until Haider flung himself to his right and plucked out a stunning one-handed catch.
Durham, despite finding themselves 126-4, recovered sufficiently enough on day one, eventually getting to 410-8 at stumps. Robinson starred with a century and he was aided lower down the order by Brydon Carse, who remained unbeaten on 77 at the end of the day. Paul Coughlin, too, notched up a fifty for Durham.
Haider, 22 years old, was dropped by Pakistan partway through their T20 World Cup campaign after defeat to Zimbabwe, but is rated as one of the country’s brightest batting prospects. He averages more than fifty in first-class cricket, beginning his Derbyshire career with a half-century in his first appearance.
Watch Haider Ali take a flying one-handed catch at second slip here:
Haider Ali takes a stunning catch at second slip!
That remarkable grab gives @DerbyshireCCC their fourth wicket against Durham#LVCountyChamp pic.twitter.com/iOIwDaO66G
— Vitality County Championship (@CountyChamp) April 27, 2023
