[Watch] Anrich Nortje dives full-stretch to take a catch off Jonny Bairstow's bat in ENG vs SA T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 match
South African paceman Anrich Nortje took an outstanding catch to help their side see the back of Jonny Bairstow against England. It came in their T20 World Cup 2024 Super 8 game at Gros Islet in St. Lucia on Friday, June 21. The 30-year-old put in a full-length dive as the English keeper-batter reached out for a wide delivery to hit it for a boundary.
The dismissal occurred in the seventh over of the innings as Keshav Maharaj came on for his second. The ball from the left-arm spinner was not only wide but also generated extra bounce and Bairstow went for the cut without keeping it down. Nortje put in a full-throttle dive to take the catch with both hands.
The Proteas had gotten rid of the dangerous and in-form Phil Salt in the second over. Reeza Hendricks plucked a blinder to see the right-hander's back for 11.
Meanwhile, Buttler had earlier won the toss and decided to send South Africa into bat. Quinton de Kock and David Miller were the standout batters of their innings with 65 and 43 runs, respectively, as SA scored 163/6. Jofra Archer emerged as the pick of the bowlers for England with figures of 4-0-40-3.
Jonny Bairstow played a crucial role in England's win over the West Indies
The Yorkshire batter silenced his critics in England's Super 8 fixture against the West Indies. He smacked an unbeaten 48 off 26 deliveries with five fours and two sixes. In the process, he also stitched an unbroken stand of 97 with Phil Salt, who struck a 47-ball 87 to drive England home with eight wickets to spare.
The defending champions have had a scratchy start to their campaign and were on the verge of group-stage elimination after losing to Australia. However, victories over Namibia and Oman, followed by Australia beating Scotland helped England sneak into Super 8s. South Africa, are meanwhile, one of the three unbeaten sides so far alongside Australia and India.