After Faf du Plessis‘ age-defying catch a couple of days ago, his teammate Romario Shepherd took a stunning one-handed take in Monday’s SA20 2024 encounter between Durban Super Giants and Joburg Super Kings at the Kingsmead stadium to dismiss Durban opener Matthew Breetzke.
“𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐬, 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐬,” are the adjectives used by the SA20 league’s Twitter handle to describe this outrageous catch from the West Indies all-rounder.
Breetzke had started his innings on an impressive note by cracking a four and a six to off-spinner Moeen Ali before getting out to Nandre Burger. But the credit for the dismissal goes to Romario Shepherd, who took an acrobatic one-handed stunner, intercepting the ball that was flying toward the mid-wicket boundary.
To a back-of-length ball from Burger, Breetzke played a cute pull shot on one leg, aiming to clear Romario Shepherd at mid-wicket right on the edge of the 30-yard circle. But the fielder timed his jump to perfection, flung his right hand, stretching every sinew of his arm and back, and grabbed the ball mid-air. Even as he fell on the ground, Shepherd kept his hold on the ball and then threw it back up in celebration.
The commentators went wild in incredulity; the home crowd was left stunned in disbelief; the bowler, Nandre Burger, was astonished and he had his hands covering his mouth.
Watch: Romario Shepherd takes one of the most insane one-handed catches
𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞, 𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐬, 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐬 🤯🤯🤯
Behold the 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 of Romario Shepherd in the field 🫡#Betway #SA20 #WelcomeToIncredible #DSGvJSK pic.twitter.com/oB3Y1KJllx
— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 15, 2024
Talking about the game, the hosts were rocked early on as they lost four wickets in 6.1 overs. Breetzke scored 13 runs, while the in-form Quinton de Kock and JJ Smuts were dismissed for single-digit scores. De Kock’s struggles against off-spinners continue to haunt him as Moeen Ali dismissed him this time, while Lizaad Williams got rid of Smuts.
Imran Tahir, who is still going strong at the age of 44, trapped Wiaan Mulder lbw as Durban slumped to 34/4. Heinrich Klaasen and Keemo Paul now have a rescue act to perform.