After a disheartening batting collapse, South Africa’s only hope of getting closer to England’s total was dependent on Hashim Amla and Andile Phehlukwayo. The target was miles away but Phehlukwayo was negotiating the pumped English attack with immense confidence.
On the first delivery of the 35th over, Phehlukwayo swept one off Adil Rashid towards deep mid-wicket. The timing was exquisite and a boundary looked imminent, but it wasn’t to be. Ben Stokes judged the ball with perfection and launched himself like a ‘superman’ only to grab an absolute stunner. The whole English team along with the fans were left bewildered with this valiant effort, which ended in the southpaw’s dismissal.
After top-scoring with 89 runs in the first innings, Stokes was brimming with confidence, which was clearly evident in his fielding. The World Cup opener had everything – stellar batting, impactful bowling and mind-boggling fielding and this catch by Stokes will certainly contend for the best catch of the tournament.
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