Peter Nevill equals world record for most dismissals in a List-A match
Australian wicketkeeper Peter Nevill did his chances of being picked for the upcoming Ashes no harm as he equaled a world record while playing for New South Wales in their win over the Cricket Australia XI in the JLT One-Day Cup game in Sydney on Sunday. Nevill's eight dismissals in the match helped him go level with three other players and claim the world record for most dismissals in a List-A match. In the process, he also broke the Australian List-A record of most dismissals (six) held by four different players.
Courtesy of his record-breaking exploits, he joined Somerset's Derek Taylor, Boland's Steve Palframan and Worcestershire's James Piper. The record for the most dismissals in a List-A game stood at eight when Derek Taylor snaffled eight catches against British Universities at Taunton in 1982.
It was equalled in 1997-98 when Palframan joined the club courtesy of his five catches and three stumpings against Easterns at Paarl. In 2001, Piper became the third keeper to jointly-hold the record after he claimed eight catches against Hertfordshire at Hertford.
The Australian wicketkeeper also claimed sole custody of the national record, which previously stood at six dismissals. Western Australia's Ryan Campbell (thrice), WA's Adam Gilchrist, Queensland's Wade Seccombe and NSW's Brad Haddin (all once) jointly-held the previous record before it was broken by the 31-year-old.
After winning the toss, Cricket Australia XI elected to field and were immediately on the back foot as New South Wales' opening pair of Daniel Hughes and Nic Maddinson put on a century partnership. Hughes scored a fifty while Maddinson went on to complete his century. A late cameo by Nevill helped them post 332/8 in their 50 overs.
In reply, apart from opener Bryant, no one else crossed fifty and against a bowling line-up that included Australian internationals Doug Bollinger, Gurinder Sandhu, Sean Abbott and Nathan Lyon, they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. While wickets kept falling, Nevill kept claiming catches and also picked up a couple of stumpings too.
In the end, only Maddinson and Edwards denied him the chance to become the first keeper to claim all 10 dismissals in a List-A match. Speaking after the game, the keeper admitted that he had no idea of the world record he just claimed.
"I didn't realise that was the case but that's more of a reflection of the bowling than the wicketkeeping," he added after the game. Centurion Maddisonson also heaped praise on the keeper after the 93-run win.
With Australia coach Darren Lehmann in attendance, Nevill will be hoping that his world record performance is enough to earn him a spot in the Ashes side.