WATCH: Mohammad Rizwan pulls off a screamer; best-ever running catch by a keeper?
Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan on Sunday (August 15) pulled off one of the best running catches seen on a cricket field. Rizwan covered a lengthy area towards the fine-leg region and made a successful forward dive to bring his team on the cusp of victory in the first Test against West Indies in Jamaica.
The memorable catch was on show in the 53rd over of the West Indies second-innings at the Sabina Park. As the hosts required another 17 runs for victory with just two wickets in hand in a low-scoring thriller, lower-order batsman Jomel Warrican top-edged a pull shot against pacer Hasan Ali.
With an early glimpse that the ball is sailing to the right of the fine-leg fieldsman, Rizwan took the onus upon himself. He sprinted as fast as a wicketkeeper possibly could with pads on and dived full stretch near the boundary ropes to complete what will be a famous grab.
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Mohammad Rizwan made a difficult catch look easy in the closing stages of the Jamaica Test.
Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan’s warrior with the bat and gloves
How much ground did Mohammad Rizwan make up here?! Madness!@iMRizwanPak | @TheRealPCB pic.twitter.com/Ok0sILTj2w
— Catch Mate. (@CatchMate_) August 15, 2021
This was not the first instance where Mohammad Rizwan’s form and class has been evident on a cricket field. Since replacing former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed as Pakistan’s first-choice wicketkeeper across formats after the 2019 World Cup in UK, Rizwan has been shining with both bat and gloves for his country.
The 29-year-old has now played 16 Tests, 41 ODIs and 43 T20Is for Pakistan. For a wicketkeeper-batsman, Rizwan’s batting numbers are highly impressive in Test cricket where he averages 41.57 with one century and six half-centuries to his name. With his positive outlook and undoubted ability, Rizwan has played some fine knocks for Pakistan in difficult circumstances.
But that would also be a cause of disappointment for Rizwan as this time he couldn’t stretch any of his two starts in Jamaica into something substantial. While the right-hander batted well for his knocks of 23 and 30, he will know that Pakistan required more from him if they were to secure victory.
Despite his excellent catch, West Indies were able to sneak through to victory at the end by one wicket and went 1-0 up in the two-match series.