Sophie Devine showcased her fielding brilliance with a spectacular backward operating catch to dismiss Anushka Sanjeewani throughout a vital second of the sport within the Girls’s T20 World Cup 2024 match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka on Saturday (October 12).
Sophie Devine’s excellent backward operating catch
Within the sixteenth over, Leigh Kasperek delivered a tempting flighted ball outdoors off-stump, luring Sanjeewani to cost down the pitch in an try and clear mid-off. Nonetheless, the batter mistimed her shot, sending the ball excessive into the air.
Devine, positioned at mid-off, had a troublesome job forward because the ball soared over her shoulder. With precision and composure, she turned and sprinted backward, monitoring the ball together with her eyes mounted firmly on it. Regardless of the awkward angle and the stress of the second, Devine reached out and accomplished a shocking catch, simply because the ball started to descend. Her athleticism and fast reflexes made the dismissal look easy, however it was a testomony to her expertise and talent as one of many sport’s high all-rounders.
This catch not solely eliminated Sanjeewani for five off 7 balls but additionally gave Kasperek her second wicket, pushing Sri Lanka deeper into hassle. Devine’s brilliance within the area lifted New Zealand’s vitality, maintaining the stress on their opponents and contributing to a robust workforce efficiency.
Right here’s the video:
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Sri Lanka wrestle to 115/5 after Chamari Athapaththu regular 35
Sri Lanka Girls, selecting to bat first within the match in opposition to New Zealand, may solely handle 115/5 in 20 overs. Chamari Athapaththu performed a affected person knock of 35 off 41 balls, however her incapacity to speed up stalled Sri Lanka’s innings. After her dismissal within the 14th over, the center order faltered underneath stress. Harshitha Samarawickrama contributed 18 earlier than falling to Kasperek. Regardless of late efforts from Nilakshika Silva (14*) and Ama Kanchana (10*), Sri Lanka struggled to push the scoring charge. Extras accounted for 15 runs, boosting their modest complete.
Amelia Kerr and Leigh Kasperek shine for New Zealand
New Zealand’s bowlers have been disciplined, led by Amelia Kerr, who picked up 2 wickets for simply 13 runs in her 4 overs. Kerr’s intelligent variations troubled the batters, taking essential wickets, together with Athapaththu. Kasperek additionally impressed with 2/27, dismissing Samarawickrama and Sanjeewani. Devine’s athletic backward-running catch added to New Zealand’s sharp fielding show. Eden Carson contributed with 1/19, whereas the tempo duo of Rosemary Mair and Lea Tahuhu utilized stress with economical spells. The well-rounded bowling effort left New Zealand with a manageable goal of 116.
Additionally READ: Medical Australia beat Pakistan to register a commanding win in Girls’s T20 World Cup 2024
This text was first printed at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Occasions firm.