Catch of the day was the instant verdict in Rawalpindi, where Faheem Ashraf pulled off a sensational relay catch to rescue debutant Saad Baig from what could have been an awkward moment and to break Sri Lanka’s opening stand in the ODI tri-series.
Pakistan had batted first in the opening fixture of the tri-nation series and finished with 305 runs on the board. Sri Lanka answered with a calm start, and their openers put together a stand of 30 runs, which suggested that the visitors were comfortable on a good batting surface. However, the contest turned quickly once Naseem Shah began to test the batters with the short ball.
MORE: 'A fearless masterclass!': Salman Ali Agha breaks Mohammad Yousuf record with a 4th ODI century vs Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi
In the sixth over, Naseem pitched a short delivery at Avishka Fernando, who tried to pull it away. The batter was cramped for room, and the shot only produced a top edge that sent the ball steeply into the air towards short fine leg. It was the kind of chance that looks simple from a distance but becomes awkward as it dips under the lights.
Baig, who is keeping wicket on his debut, ran across and got both hands to the ball, but he lost his balance at the crucial moment and the ball popped out of his gloves.
What happened next saved Pakistan a wicket and the young player some embarrassment. Ashraf had positioned himself behind Saad near deep fine leg, and he stayed calm enough to gather the spilled ball and complete a relay catch.
Baig looked visibly relieved, because a miss in his first international outing could easily have turned into a long-remembered blunder.
MORE: 'Short ball again': Babar misses out on 50 as Sri Lanka exploit PAK star's weakness
@CallMeSheri1_ summed up the incident in a few blunt lines that described how the ball ended up in Faheem’s hands.
He wrote: “CATCH OF THE DAY. Saad Baig dropped it, but the ball went straight into the hands of Faheem Ashraf.”
CATCH OF THE DAY. Saad Baig dropped it, but the ball went straight into the hands of Faheem Ashraf. https://t.co/mheyKF5zsp
@waleed_ch5 was full of praise for the fielding effort and added a set of hashtags for the match.
He wrote: “What a stunning catch by Faheem Ashraf! Absolute brilliance on the field! #PAKvsSL #FaheemAshraf #PakistanCricket #Cricket”
What a stunning catch by Faheem Ashraf! 🫴🔥 Absolute brilliance on the field! 🇵🇰👏 #PAKvsSL #FaheemAshraf #PakistanCricket #Cricket https://t.co/RHXx4PheVj
@BasitSubhani took a more critical view of the debutant, though he also had kind words for the fielder who saved the day.
He wrote: “Baig dropped a catch which you expect a wicket keeper to take … He should be thankful to Faheem Ashraf for showing presence of mind who got it at the end!”
Baig dropped a catch which you expect a wicket keeper to take … He should be thankful to Faheem Ashraf for showing presence of mind who got it at the end! https://t.co/NGsOgGO6jN
Finally, @MianAhmad_56 credited Faheem’s positioning for turning a possible misjudgment into a wicket and also pointed out a small milestone for the bowler.
He wrote: “Faheem Ashraf’s timely positioning saved a dropped catch or a misjudged chance by debutant Saad Baig. Naseem Shah got his first.”
Faheem Ashraf’s timely positioning saved a dropped catch or a misjudged chance by debutant Saad Baig. Naseem Shah got his first. https://t.co/ZORYDOoc6f
Fielding rarely receives the praise given to big hundreds or five-wicket hauls, yet moments like this one often decide matches. Faheem Ashraf did not rely on luck here, because a player who places himself behind a teammate is thinking two steps ahead. That kind of awareness is hard to coach, and it is exactly what separates a decent fielding unit from a very good one.
MORE: When did Pakistan last host an ODI tri-series?
Saad Baig deserves some sympathy, since the ball was dropping awkwardly and he lost his footing while running a long way. Debuts bring nerves, and a fumble of this kind can linger in a young player’s mind. However, the fact that a teammate was alert enough to back him up may help him settle quickly, and it shows the sort of support structure Pakistan have built in the field.
Pakistan will be pleased with how the pace attack and the fielders worked together, although they must stay sharper in future games, since a chase of 306 can still turn quickly if the openers are allowed to settle. For now, the early wickets have given the hosts the advantage in this tri-series opener.
To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics, visit our Facebook , Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.
Soham Mukherjee is a content producer and writer, with a focus on cricket, football, tennis and Indian sports. His work has appeared in Goal.com previously, where he has covered the Premier League, La Liga, Champions League, FIFA World Cups and Indian football. Armed with an MA (Master's) in Sports Journalism from Symbiosis International University, he knew early on that his future wouldn’t be on the pitch but behind the pen, shaping narratives about the games he adores.
Loading comments…