Will Young has emerged as an early candidate for sack of the year, with the New Zealander’s “outrageous” off-field sack causing a stir on the fourth day of the second test against South Africa. Fans will have to use their 10cric login to enjoy the full highlights for this one.
On Monday afternoon, the Proteas were 6/219 at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval when Young’s Marco Jansen cut a full delivery from the Black Caps‘ all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme towards the mid-wicket boundary.
Young, returning to the ball, desperately flung out his left arm and managed to get the red pill behind the body.
The 29-year-old raised his arms in disbelief before his ecstatic teammates surrounded him on the field.
The catch was reminiscent of Ben Stokes‘ famous catch to eliminate South Africa’s Andile Phehlukwayo in the opening match of the 2019 Cricket World Cup at The Oval.
This was the only highlight of a disappointing day for the Kiwis, who were on their way to a heavy defeat in Test 2 in Christchurch.
South Africa closed their second innings with 9/354, putting New Zealand within an unlikely 426 of victory.
Proteas wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne hit his first Test century on Monday, hitting a total of 136 off 187 shots to eliminate any chance of victory for the Black Caps.
For his part, South African paceman Kagiso Rabada posted his best ever Test cricket score, 47 off 34 balls that included four boundaries and four sixes.
New Zealand’s run chase got off to a terrible start, with Rabada dismissing opener Tom Latham and Young in quick succession for 1 and 0 respectively to leave the visitors in a huge 2/6 sack situa
Henry Nicholls started soon after, with a clean shot from South African spinner Keshab Maharaj for 7 in the afternoon session.
But Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell steadied the ship, combining for a 56-run partnership before Maharaj retired with 24.
New Zealand is 4/94 in the fourth over, trailing the Protees by 332 runs.
Here are some reactions from this amazing catch
“He can’t believe it, not even his teammates,” former New Zealand batsman Craig McMillan told Spark Sport.
“Where is that coming from?”
Former Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming continued, “It’s a sensational job.
“He stood there, Will Young pulled it out of nowhere.
“What a sensational piece of cricket, what a magnificent catch.”
West Indies great Ian Bishop tweeted, “Hard to top what Will Young has in 2022. Excellent.”
Newshub reporter Andrew Gourdie posted: “Will Young, that is outlandish.
