Hobart Hurricanes’ star bowler Jofra Archer has left cricket fans awestruck after taking a spectacularly casual classic catch in the Big Bash League (BBL) on Tuesday. Playing against the Brisbane Heat on Tuesday, Archer got the table-topping Hurricanes off to the dream start in smoky conditions caused by a nearby fire in Hobart.
It was a magical moment that resulted in as the end of Max Bryant’s innings as the Heat opener departed for seven runs. Archer was fielding deep in the outfield when Bryant blasted a lofted drive that appeared to be going over mid-wicket boundary for a six.
However, the pacer was quick enough to pluck the ball out of the nowhere with one hand and as he was going into the ropes, he calmly tossed the ball up in the air before he crossed the rope. Archer hopped nonchalantly back over the rope before completing the two-part catch with consummate ease.
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While watching the catch, Fox Sports commentator Brendon Julian said, “That is casual as you like”. The brilliant play lit up social media as fans hailed the Hobart man’s superb execution.
Here is the video of the catch:
JOFRA ARCHER STOP IT 😲😲#BBL08 | @BKTtires pic.twitter.com/ZjkGB7BjVp
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 29, 2019
Archer then set up a hat trick after removing Matt Renshaw for a duck, the Heat batsman edging one behind to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade. He had to wait for an over before bowling the hat-trick ball in the seventh over but Jimmy Pierson managed to see off the delivery for a single as Archer’s hot start came to a halt.
Alex Ross and Heat skipper Peirson (50 from 48 balls) anchored the innings with a 109-run fifth-wicket partnership as Brisbane made 6-145 off their 20 overs. Ross smacked as many as eight fours on his way to 62 from 35 balls under a thick cover of smoke in Hobart from bushfires burning southwest of the capital.
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Brendon McCullum was dismissed in the sixth over as he scored three off 11 balls. The pacers David Moody and James Faulkner both finished with 2-27, while spinner D’Arcy Short was clobbered for 0-31 off two overs.
The Hurricanes made the chase look easy and a lot of credit goes to scintillating knocks from D’Arcy Short and Caleb Jewell. Short took the man-of-the-match award for his unbeaten 68 (off 41 balls), while Jewell added an unbeaten 61 (off 38 balls).
The partnership helped Hobart wrap up a dominant 9 wicket win with 34 balls to spare.
