What often separates the greats from the mortals sport is the ability to dig in and deny the opposition the privilege of your wicket, come what may. Steve Smith was charting a similar path in Durham during a gritty 60 and it took a sensational take from Brydon Carse to shock him into submission.
Australia struggled for impetus in the third ODI against England at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday after the hosts put them into bat first. Lateral movement and good bounce off the deck combined with some new-ball swing meant the visitors could only rack up 41 runs in the powerplay for the loss of Matthew Short before Mitchell Marsh followed suit in the 11th over. Cameron Green and Steve Smith thereafter took charge to patiently make the scoreboard tick in a 84-run partnership but the former and Marnus Labuschagne fell within the space of four balls to once again hand the momentum back to England, the score reading 132/4. The onus thus fell on the settled Smith to guide his team out of the murky waters as the veteran brought up a 71-ball half-century and seemed on-course to play a trademark match-saving knock, until disaster struck in the 35th over.
Smith, up against Archer, was treated with a half-tracker on the third ball and sought to punish the express quick by pulling him away to oblivion. However, the pull lacked enough power to clear the boundary but was nevertheless headed for the gap between deep square leg and midwicket. Brydon Carse, stationed in line with the batter, was quick to react to the ball being launched his way and rushed to his left even though the effort merely seemed like a formality. But the 29-year-old proved everyone watching wrong by lunging himself at the ball, falling to his knees in the process, before holding onto the Kookaburra with extended arms to end up prone on the ground a feet or two from the boundary ropes.
Smith could not believe his luck as he looked at the heavens before hanging his head in shock, his arms clutching his waist as an exasperated sigh left his mouth. Twitterati reacted no differently.
What a grab!
Did it well
34th ODI fifty for Steve Smith! He’s battling hard for Australia against England,…..!!!!#AusvsEng #INDvBAN #otd #PakistanCricket pic.twitter.com/z93kz2pz5M
— Bharat Cricket Army🇮🇳 (@Hindustani57041) September 24, 2024
WHAT A CATCH!
Steve Smith is out and it’s a huge wicket for Jofra Archer and England!!#ENGvAUS— Abrar Iqbal (@abrariqbal1000) September 24, 2024
Stunning catch
Deadly
Steve Smith average against archer ☠️
— Zews (@Zeus08292) September 24, 2024
A fighting fifty by Steve Smith on 60(82)
— Vishal Pandey (@Vishal_aawaj) September 24, 2024
Finished!
Shameless Steve Smith you are finished, go home
— Javshad 🌸 (@_bumtum) September 24, 2024
Troubled?
where is that SS when Steve Smith said “troubled? How many times has he taken my wicket?” something.
— H. (@H_sy_ed) September 24, 2024
71-ball fifty by Steve Smith.
Any one who will talk about his strike rate? #ENGvsAUS— CHARLIE (@CharlieGulshan) September 24, 2024
On tough pitch
good knock by steve smith today, battled it out on a tough pitch, deserved a 100 got unlucky due to brilliant catch by Carse #ENGvsAUS
— cricket station (@ShayanR84472894) September 24, 2024
