Sri Lanka and Australia are battling it out in the second Test of the series at the Galle International Stadium. With both teams looking to gain the upper hand, the contest has been full of exciting moments. While Australia aims to assert their dominance, Sri Lanka are fighting hard to stay in the game.
Steve Smith takes a stunning one-handed catch
The highlight of Day 3 came in Sri Lanka’s second innings when Australian star Steve Smith grabbed an unbelievable one-handed catch to dismiss Dhananjaya de Silva. The spectacular moment happened on the fifth ball of the 40th over, bowled by Matthew Kuhnemann. The delivery, full and around off, gripped and turned sharply, forcing Dhananjaya to defend. The ball took the edge and flew towards first slip, where Smith reacted instantly, diving low to his right and plucking the ball with just one hand. The umpires reviewed the catch, but replays confirmed it was clean, adding another moment of brilliance to Smith’s fielding record.
Here is the video:
Another day, another screamer from Steve Smith 😱pic.twitter.com/8Z1aPxUzrk
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 8, 2025
Smith surpasses Ricky Ponting in a rare Test feat
With this catch, Smith achieved a remarkable milestone in Test cricket, surpassing former Australian captain Ricky Ponting for most catches by a non-wicketkeeper in the longest format. Smith now has 198 Test catches, overtaking Ponting’s tally of 196. His exceptional fielding continues to be a crucial asset for Australia, further cementing his legacy as one of the finest slip fielders in cricket history.
Also WATCH: SL vs AUS – Prabath Jayasuriya bowls a jaffa to dismiss Josh Inglis for a duck on Day 3 of the second Test
Smith moves to fifth on the all-time tally
Smith’s latest catch places him fifth on the all-time list of most catches in Test cricket by a non-wicketkeeper. Former Indian captain Rahul Dravid leads the charts with 210 catches, followed closely by England’s Joe Root (207), Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene (205), and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis (200). With Smith’s current form and sharp reflexes, he could soon move up the rankings and challenge the top names on this elite list.
