A cricket fan at the England-Sri Lanka Test in Manchester became the unexpected star of the match on Friday after pulling off an extraordinary one-handed catch in the stands. The spectator's perfect timing and athletic leap had the crowd buzzing with excitement on the third day of the first Test.
The moment unfolded during the 83rd over of England's innings when Asitha Fernando unleashed a bouncer at Mark Wood. Wood, showing no hesitation, attempted an aggressive pull shot, connecting cleanly with the ball. The shot sent the ball soaring towards the deep mid-wicket stands, where a fan made a jaw-dropping one-handed grab, all while holding a pint in his other hand.
YES, SIR! ?
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 23, 2024
Take incredible catch ✅
Don't spill a drop ✅
Impress the coaches ✅ pic.twitter.com/IamoUULjmb
The crowd erupted in cheers, and the impressive catch even caught the attention of the commentators and England's coach Paul Collingwood, who were visibly impressed by the spectator's effort.
On the field, England had earlier bowled Sri Lanka out for 236 in their first innings. In response, England posted a solid 358, thanks to Jamie Smith's maiden Test century. Harry Brook and Joe Root contributed valuable knocks of 56 and 42 runs, respectively, helping England secure a 122-run lead in the first innings.
This memorable catch by a fan added an extra layer of excitement to an already thrilling Test match.
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