New Zealand all-rounder Nathan Smith produced an acrobatic fielding effort during the second ODI match against Sri Lanka at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Wednesday, January 8. Nathan Smith took a stunning catch at the boundary to dismiss Sri Lanka’s lower-order batter Eshan Malinga in the recent match.
New Zealand was asked to bat first in a rain-affected match, which was reduced to 37 overs. They posted a total of 255/9, with Rachin Ravindra (79 off 63) and Mark Chapman (62 off 52) scoring fifties. Maheesh Theekshana (4/44) and Wanindu Hasaranga (2/39) were the top wicket-takers for the Sri Lanka team.
Sri Lanka’s Chase Started Poorly Against New Zealand
Sri Lanka’s chase started poorly as New Zealand’s pacers exploited the conditions, using swing, seam, and bounce to trouble Sri Lanka’s top order. Both openers failed, and Kusal Mendis was dismissed cheaply. A bizarre run-out of Charith Asalanka left them reeling at 22/4 within the powerplay of the run chase.
Kamindu Mendis fought back with a solid 64 off 66 balls, including five fours and three sixes. He formed important partnerships, adding 57 runs with Janith Liyanage (22 off 31) for the fifth wicket and 47 runs with Chamindu Wickramasinghe (17 off 27). However, he was dismissed in the 29th over of the chase.
Watch: Nathan Smith Takes a Stunner at the Boundary to Dismiss Eshan Malinga
The incident took place on the last ball of the 29th over in Sri Lanka’s innings. Eshan Malinga attempted to ramp a short and wide delivery from William O’Rourke over the keeper for a boundary. However, the ball flew off the bat’s splice toward the fine third man, where Nathan Smith was standing.
Nathan Smith, who misfielded earlier in the day, redeemed himself by diving horizontally and grabbing the ball with both hands just before it hit the ground. This stunning effort was hailed as potentially the catch of the series. Malinga was dismissed for 4 runs off 5 balls, which included one boundary.
The Black Caps took to their social media account on X (formerly known as Twitter) to share the incredible catch with the caption, “Nathan Smith! A screamer on the Seddon Park boundary to dismiss Eshan Malinga 🔥 #NZvSL #CricketNation.”
Here’s the video of Nathan Smith’s acrobatic fielding effort:
Nathan Smith! A screamer on the Seddon Park boundary to dismiss Eshan Malinga 🔥 #NvL #rceNto<!–>n p–>i.wte.o/Qma0F
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) Jnay8 05
Good Game-Time for the Guys – Mitchell Santner
Sri Lanka was bowled out for 142 runs, resulting in New Zealand securing the three-match ODI series with one match remaining. New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner praised his team’s performance.
“We opened up really well, lost wickets in the middle but seamers did their thing on a wicket that offered a little bit. Knew we had to bowl well at the start, credit to Theekshana and he bowled wide and made us hit to the bigger side and they stuck to their line and lengths for a long time and made it challenging for us. Usually it swings here under lights, but the bounce our bowlers got has proven to be challenging. Good game-time for the guys,” Santner said.
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