West Indian pacer Sheldon Cottrell is enjoying a great run at the ongoing ICC World Cup 2019. After a good show with the ball against Pakistan, 'The Sergeant' picked up two wickets and then took a blinder at the boundary to dismiss Steve Smith.
After being reduced to 38/4, Steve Smith played a responsible innings of 73 to steady the ship. Later, he was supported by a Nathan Coulter-Nile, who smashed a 60-ball 92, to take the game away from the Windies.
While Australia were on their road to recovery with Smith and Coulter-Nile belting all deliveries to the boundary, Cottrell took a stunning catch to tilt the balance again in West Indies’ favour.
It was the third ball of the 45th over of the Australian innings, Smith had smashed the ball from Oshane Thomas in the direction of backward square leg on the leg side.
The ball had six written all over it but Cottrell had other plans.
Cottrell was waiting back near the boundary ropes and sprinted across as he saw the ball coming. The seamer pounced and stuck out his left hand to catch the ball while he was in mid-air. He lost his balance and was going to cross the boundary ropes.
But like it has become a trend these days, Cottrell flicked the back into play. He made a timely jump to get back onto the field to complete the catch as his teammates when into celebratory mode.
The stunning catch is surely a contender for one of the best catches of the tournament giving Ben Stokes’ stunner against South Africa in the opening match a run for the money.
Earlier, Sheldon Cottrell was the standout quick for the Windies, removing David Warner (3) and Glenn Maxwell (0) and celebrating his wickets with a military-style salute — a nod to his army background.
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