'Best ever': Cricket world in disbelief after 'ridiculous' moment
The Big Bash erupted on Tuesday night when Jake Fraser-McGurk took an absolute stunning catch on the boundary in a thrilling last-ball victory for the Melbourne Renegades.
The 19-year-old rising star leapt high on the boundary to pluck star Adelaide Strikers batter Jake Weatherald's slog-sweep out of the air with his right hand.
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The catch is already being hailed as one of the early contenders for catch of the tournament and one of the greatest in BBL history.
The teenager twisted in the air as he landed facing the crowd with the ball in his right hand.
Fraser-McGurk's moment of magic was pivotal in halting the Strikers' run chase after openers Weatherald (18) and Matt Short (29) had set a solid early platform in the powerplay.
The cricket world were quick to hail his moment as one of the best catches ever.
Jake Fraser-McGurk plucks an INSANE grab!! #BBL11 pic.twitter.com/YT18EE0BBR
— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) December 7, 2021
What a catch!💥💥💥
Showing the #BBL level! pic.twitter.com/BZzpPxWHyc— Nishant Rawat (@Nishant92787730) December 7, 2021
Catch of the season is over already. Give Jake Fraser-McGurk the prize immediately. One of the grabs I’ve ever seen. #BBL11
— Josh Sim (@JoshSim) December 7, 2021
What a catch that is McGirk! Wow 😮 @BBL
— Sam Billings (@sambillings) December 7, 2021
An extraordinary catch by Jake Fraser-McGurk in 3rd match of BBL pic.twitter.com/Yxdt6SOAVE
— Cric Boli (@BoliCric) December 7, 2021
Great catch by Jake Fraser-McGurk. Lovely to see him playing at a senior level. He played in the last U19 World Cup for Australia but had to leave the tournament after being scratched on the face by a monkey. pic.twitter.com/djVVizDIDE
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) December 7, 2021
Excellent catch that one by Jake Fraser-McGurk!
That jump was timed to perfection and it was quite a high one too!#BBL11pic.twitter.com/2Gjg2p9O5i— Prasenjit Dey (@CricPrasen) December 7, 2021
Fraser-McGurk is Gen Z enough to be revelling in that catch on the field, buzzing in the knowledge that it'll be doing absolute numbers on the socials. #bbl11
— Isabelle Westbury (@izzywestbury) December 7, 2021
A frankly ridiculous grab from Jake Fraser-McGurk in the BBL 👏#BBL11 pic.twitter.com/RnYJG1VCnn
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) December 7, 2021
Melbourne Renegades opened their BBL season with a tense two-run win over the Adelaide Strikers.
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Regular wickets fell and Ryan Gibson retired hurt with a hamstring injury as the Renegades narrowly defended their total of 9-153, restricting the visitors to 8-151 in a tight finish.
Daniel Drew (23 not out) needed four off the final ball to send the game to a super over - or a six to win - but his skied edge off James Pattinson didn't carry the distance to the rope.
Man-of-the match Zahir Khan (3-24) removed both Adelaide openers and the dangerous Jonathan Wells, while new captain Kane Richardson (1-24) matched the Afghan spinner as the Renegades' most economical bowlers.
Fraser-McGurk addressed his sensational catch after the match and said all his practice paid off.
"(Weatherald) swept the first couple and didn't really hit them, so I thought I was on and the whole crowd was saying it as well," Fraser-McGurk said.
"Then I saw it went up and just instinctively took the catch. It was a 'throw it up there and hope it goes in' type of thing.
"I practice those flat ones on the boundary but to actually get one in a game was pretty special."
Short twice hit English quick Reece Topley (1-43) for six with effortless flicks that sailed way back into the second tier of the grandstand at backward square.
He also took a brilliant one-handed catch off his own bowling to remove Renegades opener Sam Harper, providing most of the highlights until Fraser-McGurk delivered the best of the lot.
“It sort of reminds me of Ben Stokes’ catch in the World Cup.”
Jake Fraser-McGurk on his incredible piece of fielding. 😮 #BBL11 @RenegadesBBL pic.twitter.com/EY38EOfskh— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) December 7, 2021
The Renegades fielded a depleted top order with veteran duo Aaron Finch (knee) and Shaun Marsh (calf) out injured, plus Marcus Harris and Nic Maddinson unavailable because of national duty.
Mackenzie Harvey took it upon himself to lift the home side, posting a mature half-century.
The 21-year-old's 56 from 46 balls - a career-best knock in his 24th T20 match - spanned a 65-run opening stand with Harper (33 off 28) before he was eventually out bowled by Rashid Khan (1-30).
BBL debutant James Seymour whacked his first ball for six off Peter Siddle and made a handy 23 from 14 for the Renegades.
He was one of two wickets for Daniel Worrall (2-26), who helped put the brakes on the hosts' innings by taking 2-3 in the 18th over.
Former Test quick Siddle was the Strikers' most expensive bowler, coughing up 36 runs from his first three overs.
But he fought back to claim the important wickets of Mohammad Nabi and Jonathan Merlo in the 19th over, finishing with figures of 3-42.
with AAP
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