The greatest of fielders have all dropped catches in the game of cricket and Steve Smith proved he is no different when he put down a sitter during the WTC 2025 final at Lord’s.Smith, stationed at slips with a helmet, offered Temba Bavuma a reprieve during a crucial phase of the game on day three.
Australia wrested the advantage from South Africa with a formidable lead of 281 in their second innings during the third day of the World Test Championship 2025 final at Lord’s on Friday. The lower order put on a resilient show after being reduced to 73/7 to record 207 on the board with Mitchell Starc remaining unbeaten on 58 and Alex Carey scoring 43.
However, South Africa also started their final innings on a positive note despite losing Ryan Rickelton in the third over with the score reading just nine. Fellow opener Aiden Markram and Wiaan Mulder kept finding the occasional boundaries to keep the scoreboard ticking as the team went past the 50-run mark.
The pair was looking good for a big one after completing their fifty partnership when Mulder was dismissed by Starc, against the run of play, for his second wicket. The defending champion felt they were right back in the game after getting a wicket they were searching for as the Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma walked in.
Starc did all the hard work to swing the cherry in after pitching it on a short of a length to new batter Bavuma in his next over. Bavuma got a thick edge trying to run the ball down to mid-on as the ball flew to the slip cordon. Steve Smith was standing way forward from the usual first slip position with his helmet on as the ball was keeping low and falling short of the cordon through the last evening and this morning as well.
But, in contrast, the ball flew towards him after getting the nick as he was surprised by the pace and carry. The former Australian captain, who was already moving the wrong way, tried to scalp it the Australian way but failed miserably as the ball smashed into his little finger on the right hand and went to ground.
Smith was visibly in pain as he threw his helmet away and showed his little finger towards the dressing room in a message to the physio. But, Mitchell Starc, who was the bowler when Carey dropped a sitter in the first innings, was again the unlucky lad here as Twitter was stunned to see an excellent fielder like Smith drop an easy chance. The Australian batter had to walk back into the dressing room with a dislocated finger but the damage was already done by then as Bavuma extended his stay in the middle.