‘So many would give that up’: Steve Smith channels his inner Superman with an incredible dive to stop a six during T20 clash against South Africa
- Steve Smith stopped a certain six after leaping over the boundary to block ball
- Smith was hailed ‘superman’ by commentators for the remarkable fielding effort
- Australia went down by 12 runs to South Africa in the second T20 match
Steve Smith pulled off a ‘superman’ performance while fielding a ball that was destined for a six when Australia faced South Africa for the second T20 match.
Despite South Africa winning the match, Smith’s epic save was easily the highlight for those lucky enough to be watching the game in Port Elizabeth.
The crowd and commentators thought South African batsman Quinton de Kock had hit a six as the ball launched over the boundary.
But in a remarkable display of athleticism, Smith jumped into the air and tapped the ball back into the field with one hand before crashing to the ground.
‘That is Superman! That is absolutely unbelievable Steve Smith,’ one of the commentators said.
‘You’re thinking that’s gone for six, the crowd thought it was gone for six as well…what about that. Unbelievable.
‘So many would give that up because you’ve literally got no chance, if anything you’ve got a one per cent chance.’
Smith managed to block the ball as it headed for a six and flung it back over the boundary during the second T20 match
The former Australian captain nearly pulled the move off again when he tossed another ball back into play after running over the boundary rope.
After running over the rope to try and catch the ball again. his ankle got caught and he tripped over, missing the catch.
Australia went down to South Africa by 12 runs in the second T20.
The series decider will be played in Cape Town on Thursday morning, AEDT.
It was the first time Smith had been back since the ball tampering scandal which saw him banned from the game for 12 months.
The team are staying in the same Johannesburg hotel where Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft arrived in disgrace after it was revealed they had plotted to tamper with the ball in the previous Test in Cape Town
‘Probably just walking into the hotel, just initially I was like “last time I was here, it wasn’t pretty”,’ Smith told reporters in Johannesburg.
‘It wasn’t the best time in my life. But I’ve moved on from that, learned a lot over the last two years and I’m moving forward.
‘It’s good to be back here playing and I’m looking forward to this series.’
Smith (pictured with wife) admitted he had flashbacks returning to South Africa after he was caught in a ball tampering scandal that saw him banned from the sport for 12 months