Young England cricketer Shoaib Bashir made a spectacular catch on Day 4 of the third Test against Sri Lanka at The Oval, providing the hosts with a crucial early breakthrough. The off-spinner covered significant ground to catch Kusal Mendis’s seemingly well-executed hook shot.
The dismissal occurred in the 20th over when Gus Atkinson delivered a short-pitched ball, and Mendis attempted a hook shot. Positioned at deep backward square, Bashir sprinted in and executed a diving catch effectively. Earlier, Mendis had attempted the same shot but had missed the mark.
You can watch the video here:
WHAT. A. CATCH!
Take a bow, Shoaib Bashir 😱 pic.twitter.com/FbGeZMwXMo
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 9, 2024
Following Dimuth Karunaratne’s dismissal for eight runs, Kusal Mendis partnered with Pathum Nissanka to form an excellent partnership that put Sri Lanka in a strong position to chase 219. The fall of Mendis’ wicket ended their 75-ball stand of 69 runs.
Shoaib Bashir’s performances against Sri Lanka have been disappointing
Chosen as the primary spinner for the summer over Jack Leach, Bashir has faced some difficulties against Sri Lanka after excelling against the West Indies. The 20-year-old took three wickets in the first Test in Manchester and added two more at Lord’s.
The young cricketer delivered a standout performance against the West Indies, claiming a five-wicket haul at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. With the Test at The Oval against Sri Lanka delicately poised, England will rely on Bashir to make a significant impact.
England experienced a major batting collapse on Day 3, being dismissed for 156 as Lahiru Kumara and Vishwa Fernando took seven wickets between them, with Kumara claiming four.
England also faltered in their first innings at The Oval, collapsing from 221/3 to 325 all out, but eventually secured a 62-run lead. Despite their efforts to cap off a successful summer, Sri Lanka now appear to be strong favourites to win at The Oval.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.