Steve Smith pulls off incredible ‘catch of the century’ as Australia dissects India in second ODI

Steve Smith scored a sensational catch as Australia leveled the ODI streak after beating India by 10 wickets in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.

The Aussies ripped through India’s batsman line-up, with the hosts tied for 117 – their fourth-lowest ODI total at home – as Mitchell Starc won five wickets and Sean Abbott chipped in with three.

One of Abbott’s scalps created the game’s catch when Smith, still filling in as skipper in place of Pat Cummins, dived right to remove Pandya for 1.

The star all-rounder fended off a long delivery from Abbott towards Slip Cordon, who was spectacularly caught by Smith diving right to his right spot at full extension where the third slip would normally be stationed.

Indian cricket legend Sanjay Manjreka responded to comments, noting that Smith’s grave had a legitimate claim to being considered ‘Catch of the Century’ given the level of difficulty.

Steve Smith (centre) scored a sensational catch to remove Hardik Pandya in the second ODI at Visakhapatnam on Sunday

Smith dove a full-length right for an excellent one-handed grip after the Indian all-rounder edged a long Sean Abbott delivery

“It’s not far now,” replied former Australian captain Aaron Finch.

“An absolute dud by Steve Smith. Who needs three slips of paper when it’s Steve Smith?

“He’s known over the years for taking her with one-handed beauties. In the last game, a lot of things just fell into his fingertips, but this right into his hand.”

Starc finished 5-53 in his eight overs while Abbott won 3-23 in six overs and Nathan Ellis snapped two of five.

After India collapsed, Mitch Marsh and Travis Head made light work of the chase, finishing with 66 not outs and 51 not outs respectively as Australia reached the victory goal in just 11 overs.

The result leveled the three-game series 1-1 and advanced to the final on Wednesday in Chennai.

Marsh only opened in the first two games due to the absence of David Warner, who missed the first game to give him more time to recover from a hairline fracture in his elbow.

Warner was scheduled to play on Sunday, but a corked quad stopped him from doing so.

Marsh hit 81 of 65 balls in Friday’s five-wicket loss to India and he continued India’s attack in the second game.

Australia’s hot form as a starter has given them pause for thought ahead of this year’s World Cup in India.

Although Marsh and Head provided the fireworks with the bat, it was Starc who set up the win with a stunning display.

The left arm started the destruction in the opening by enticing Shubman Gill (0) into a loose shot while Marnus Labuschagne devoured the catch at the back point.

Smith gave Starc his second wicket with a juggling attempt to sack Rohit Sharma for 13.

And when Suryakumar Yadav was sent off by Starc for a golden duck in the second game in a row, the Aussie pace ace had a hat-trick.

KL Rahul blocked the hat trick ball but was caught in front by Starc a short time later, reducing India to 4-48.

Smith’s stunner on a slip – out of bowling by Sean Abbott – made it 5-49, and Nathan Ellis snatched the prized scalps of Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja (16) as India plummeted to 7-91 in the 20th over.

Starc was beaten for consecutive sixes by Axar Patel when he returned for another spell, but finished the innings by bowling Mohammed Siraj.

Only Waqar Younis (13) and Muttiah Muralitharan (10) have more five-wicket moves in ODI cricket than Starc’s nine.

Mitch Marsh and Travis Head made light work of the chase, finishing with 66 not outs and 51 not outs respectively as Australia chased 117 in just 11 overs

Mitchell Starc finished with five wickets, his ninth five-wicket move in ODI cricket

India’s total was fourth-lowest at home in an ODI and third-lowest against Australia

“We saw a Mitch clinic there today like we’ve seen before,” Abbott said of Starc’s exploits.

Abbott (3-23) and Nathan Ellis (2-13) produced handy cameos.

Virat Kohli (31) scored the best goal for his side while Patel (29) was the only other batsman to fight back.

It was India’s third lowest overall ODI against Australia, behind 63 at the SCG in 1981 and 100 also at Sydney in 2000.