ENG vs SL | Twitter salutes one-handed crowd blinder that leaves English balcony impressed

08/23/2024

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Juggling a pint and a rock-hard leather ball isn't the easiest of tasks but a gentleman at Old Trafford on Friday afternoon seemed to believe otherwise. The one handed grab off a wild Mark Wood heave was followed by salutes ringing around the stadium as even Paul Collingwood expressed admiration.

England put on a show in the morning session of Day 3 to multiply their overnight lead manifold and end up with a score of 358, a surplus of 122 over Sri Lanka at the halfway stage of the match. The batting efforts were led by Jamie Smith's maiden Test ton and followed by a typically entertaining Mark Wood cameo of 22, featuring three boundaries and a maximum in the 13-ball stay. Yet, it was a random audience member that ended up stealing the spotlight in the brief period of play and for good reason.

Sri Lanka had opted for the new ball as soon as it became available and Asitha Fernando took the shiny new red cherry in hand in the 83rd over with Wood on strike. The right-arm quick banged in a sharp bumper at the deck but Wood was well prepared as he cleared his front leg and magnificently heaved the head-high ball for a massive six over square leg. While cheers rang out as soon as the ball hit the bat, they got significantly louder when it landed in the hand of a man who had managed to grab the cleanest of catches. Replays showed the Duke's had nestled straight into the breadbasket of the England supporter and he was quick to make the most of his 15 minutes of fame by ringing out salutes all across the stadium while being dapped up by those around him. What made the effort even more incredulous was that he had a pint held firmly in the other hand and did not even spill a drop during the entire process.

As the replays continued rolling on the big screen, cameras panned to the English balcony where Marcus Trescothick was snickering away and Paul Collingwooed was re-enacting the catch, evidently marvelling at how perfectly the ball stuck to the palm. Twitterati was no different.

One handed grab!

pic.twitter.com/skFU9g5UeX
— Gill Bill (@bill_gill76078) August 23, 2024

Performed well

That was a great performance with the bat by Mark Wood.
— Charan Reddy (@guzman0753) August 23, 2024

Test cricket at its finest

Of all the moments to choose to film, I get Mark Wood’s six that was caught by a fan in the crowd one-handed as he held a pint!

Test cricket at its finest! 🏏🤘🏼 pic.twitter.com/my5IBuWaeY
— Megan Wellens (@MegWellensX) August 23, 2024

Worthy successor

if @IsBroad wants a new gimmick then mark wood is definitely a worthy successor
— Jonny (@pxdr0) August 23, 2024

Gone

England lost Mark Wood on 22 runs.

Now England scored 348/9#ENGvSL #PAKvBAN
— sports news (@CricUniverse7) August 23, 2024

Showman

Mark Wood, what a showman
— Moyesball Believer ⚒️ (@moyes4ever) August 23, 2024

The vinatge viral one

https://x.com/TheACCnz/status/1587389054336704512

Massive six

Yesss Mark Wood just smashed a MASSIVE 6 and now Potts a 4 😂 tail end slogging love it!

England 347/8 lead by 111#ENGvSL 🏏🏏🏏
— Ian (@Mancman10) August 23, 2024

Need to learn

All our bowlers need to learn to make 20-30 runs in test like how mark wood, Chris wokes make today or yesterday Shaheen made it will be beneficial for us in overseas
— maskhai (@chowminmerahai) August 23, 2024

Go for it!