Watch, BBL | Short puts body on line with unbelievable catch to see back of Willey at crucial phase

Last Tuesday at 6:43 PM

Matthew Short came up with a stunning effort to keep Adelaide Strikers in the game against Sydney Thunder during their BBL match in Adelaide on Tuesday. The home side’s skipper dived full stretch to pouch David Willey’s uppish drive to turn the tide in their favour en route to a six-run victory.

Adelaide Strikers skipper Matthew Short after his diving effort to dismiss Sydney Thunder's David Willey in Adelaide in the BBL 2025-26 match.

‌Adelaide Strikers pipped Sydney Thunder by six runs in a nervy climax in the Big Bash League encounter in Adelaide on Tuesday. Liam Scott played an unbeaten cameo of 49 off 32 balls, while Jamie Overton came to the fore with a fiery spell of 3/25 in four overs for the home side to overshadow David Warner’s half-century.

Though Luke Wood kept his composure to defend 13 runs in a tight final over, it was Matthew Short who turned the game on its head with an excellent fielding effort. The Strikers skipper had an off day with the bat, scoring just four off four balls before an indifferent third over with the ball, giving away 12 runs in the 18th over to help the Thunder back into the contest.

Still, he was fully in the game, pouching David Willey with an unbelievable effort to keep the home side in the contest. After conceding a six in the previous ball, Overton cleverly varied his pace and went away from the arc of Willey, who tried to go over Short, placed at mid off. But the former England pacer could not time the ball as it hit the toe end of the bat.

As the ball went in the air, Short showed great anticipation to run to his left from wide mid off before diving full stretch. He timed it perfectly, pouching the ball just above the ground before ending his slide smoothly with the ball locked tightly in his outstretched hands.

That catch saved a certain boundary and turned the game around sharply in the hosts’ favour as Warner was left to do the heavy lifting alone. And Luke Wood’s final over was the cherry on top for the Strikers.

What an effort!