Marnus Labuschagne may be facing challenges with the bat lately, but his fielding prowess was evident as he pulled off a stunning catch to dismiss South Africa’s captain, Temba Bavuma. Bavuma, who had battled to reach 36 after starting the day on 3, had an lbw decision overturned earlier in the session thanks to DRS, which revealed a spike on ultra edge next to his bat.
The 40th over saw Bavuma’s innings come to an end when he attempted a cover drive off Pat Cummins. Labuschagne, stationed in the field, dived to his right to take an exceptional catch. Nasser Hussain, commenting for Amazon Prime, praised Labuschagne’s athleticism, noting that he provided the special moment needed to break the partnership between Bavuma and David Bedingham, who added 54 runs together. Following the dismissal, South Africa found themselves at 5-94.
Ravi Shastri remarked that Bavuma’s ill-timed shot could be attributed to his anxiousness, as he had not faced a ball in two overs and wanted to get back into the game. Labuschagne’s anticipation at cover was highlighted by Hussain, who described his crouched position as he readied for the ball much like a goalkeeper preparing for a penalty. This consistent preparation indicates Labuschagne’s eagerness to contribute in the field.
Overall, while Labuschagne continues to seek improvement with the bat, his significant fielding contribution demonstrated his value to the team.