Picture Credit: CPL/X
In the ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024, West Indies international, Odean Smith produced a brilliant catch while playing for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. The T20 league, which got underway from Friday, August 30 (IST) at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua, saw Smith take a brilliant catch to dismiss Sam Billings.
The opening match, which was played between Antigua and Barbuda Falcons and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, saw Smith showcase excellent athleticism, with fans drawing comparisons with Suryakumar Yadav’s catch from the T20 World Cup 2024 final.
The moment took place in the 14th over of the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons’ inning with wicketkeeper-batter, Sam Billings looking to accelerate his innings. Batting at 18 off 14 balls, Billings attempted a pick-up shot off a back of a length delivery from Dominic Drakes. While it looked as if the ball will cross the boundary rope, but Odean Smith, who was positioned close to backward square leg, quickly grabbed the ball and released it in time before stepping over the line and brilliant comeback in to complete a clean catch.
Watch Odean Smith’s brilliant catch like Suryakumar Yadav’s WC match-winner in CPL:
This sequence of events led fans to flood social media, comparing it with the moment where SKY completed a catch of David Miller to help India to end their ICC trophy draught.
Speaking of the tournament opener in CPL 2024, Andre Fletcher-led St Kitts and Nevis Patriots won the toss and invited their opponents to bat first. The Chris Green-led Antigua and Barbuda Falcons posted 163.4 in their stipulated 20 overs, courtesy an unbeaten 50 from Jewel Andrew and a 32-ball 43 from Fakhar Zaman, along with crucial contributions with the bat from Kofi James and Fabian Allen.
However, the Fletcher-led side chased the total with just one wicket in hand in a last-ball thriller to get their first win in the tournament. The Antigua and Barbuda Falcons will next take on Guyana Amazon Warriors on August 31 (IST) in North Sound, the Andre Fletcher-led St Kitts and Nevis Patriots will take on Trinbago Knight Riders at the Warner Park on September 1 (IST).
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