Sri Lanka took the driver's seat on Day 1 of the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Colombo by b𒀰owling out the visitors for 198 with the experienced Vishwa Fernando scalping four. The only batter that seemed to show the minerals for a long innings was Rahmat Shah with the batter battling hard in his 139-ball stay for 91 and lacing 13 boundaries in the process. The 30-year-old looked on course for a second Test ton and it took a Matrix-breaking sequence by Saadera Samarawickrama to deny him the honours.
Shah's eyes lit up when slow-left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya pitched a fullꦦ delivery in line with the stumps to kick off the 45th over and he quickly got down on his knee to sweep the ball towards fine-leg🦄. However, the frequency and efficiency with which he had played the shot up to the point meant Samarawickrama was more than anticipating it, and in a groundbreaking display of quick thinking, the veteran started moving across toward his left even before the red cherry had pitched. By the time the ball met the willow, Samarawickrama was already perfectly stationed at the edge of the pitch and simply lowered his hand to complete a simple-looking but improbably well-executioned blinded.
The wicket-keeper's teammates were understandably shocked and ecstatic as w🅘ere the umpires, to such an extent that the review for the catch lasted over five minutes despite no doubts over its legality. Twitterati, however, took no time to label it as one of the best catches in modern cricketing history.
Brilliant!
Anticipation on point 👌💯
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk)
Brill♒iant piece of wicket-keeping from saw Rahmat Shah depart 9 runs short of his century ��
What a catch!
— Jas Pope (@jas_pope93438)
Phenomenal
Phenomenal take by Sadeera Samarawickra🐻ma to dismiss Rahmat Shah 🥵
— Estelle Vasudevan (@Estelle_Vasude1)
Salute
Anticipation 🫡
— CricWick (@CricWick)
Sadeera Samarawickrama took an exceptional catඣch down the leg side ꦐto dismiss Rahmat Shah 😮
All out!
🦩All out for 198. Couldn't wa꧑tch a single ball today.
— eranga tennakoon (@erangatennakoon)
10!
Rate Samarawickrama(Wk) c🌠atch today agai👍nst AFG on a scale of 1-10🤔🤔
— !BabarAzamTheLegend!💯 (@BabarAzamTheLeg)
Sensational
What a sensational catch by Sadeera Samarawickra🧔ma to dismiss Rahmat Sh🌱ah! 🔥
— Cricadium CRICKET (@Cricadium)
Amazing!
Wow, that’s amazing to grab that
— Deep Longstop 🐶 🏏 (@deeplongstop)
Not good!
Afghanistan are all𝓡 out for 198 in the first innings of the one off test against Sri Lanka, Rahmat Shah was the only half cent🐼urion scoring 91.
— Bashir Gharwal غروال (@bashir_gharwall)
Crazy
What anticipation and reflex! 😳
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt)
Just unlucky
Keeper’s mind awareness 💯
— Bashir Gharwal غروال (@bashir_gharwall)
Just unlucky to miss out on a well des🍰erv🍸ed ton
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