[Watch] Steve Smith makes amends for dropped chance with a stunner to end KL Rahul's vigil in BGT 2024-25 3rd Test
Team India batter KL Rahul's lone act came to an abrupt end after Steve Smith pulled off a catch at slip for the ages during the first session of Day 4 of the third Border-Gavaskar series Test at The Gabba in Brisbane. The right-handed batter scored 84 runs off 139 deliveries to keep India, who attempt to avoid the follow-on, in the hunt.
Rahul looked in sublime touch after his double failure in Adelaide. The batter played with discipline, left balls accordingly, and capitalized on the loose ones to show the ideal template. However, he was stranded at one end and forced to watch the rest of the batting unit depart after the other.
He was looking set for a hundred after having missed out on one in the second innings in Perth. However, his attempt to play a cut shot too close to his body off Nathan Lyon's bowling in the 43rd over ended up being his last act.
Playing it firmly off the backfoot, Rahul had enough power behind the shot, bringing his wrists into play to carve it to third man. However, he got into an awkward shape while playing the stoke, primarily because of the lack of room. The extra bounce in the surface also came into play as it took the outside edge.
Smith, stationed at slip, made the ideal trigger movement towards the ball. With the necessary momentum behind him, he could lunge towards his right. Another factor that helped the fielder was that the ball was at a catchable height, well above the ground.
Smith timed the full-length dive perfectly, and the ball stuck to his outstretched hand to end KL Rahul's resistance.
Have a look at the brilliant catch right here:
KL Rahul's dismissal leaves India at 141-6, with the follow-on cut-off still a fair distance away.
Steve Smith had dropped KL Rahul off the first ball on Day 4
After a dampened Day 3 dominated by rain, Day 4 began on an enthralling note. KL Rahul nicked one off Pat Cummins to kickstart the proceedings, but Steve Smith made a mess of the simple attempt to hand the batter a huge reprieve.
At that time, Rahul was batting on his overnight score of 33 runs. The opening batter tried to make the most of his second life, piling on 51 more runs to give India a chance for survival.