England put on a dazzling display in the morning session of Day 3, significantly extending their overnight lead and finishing with a total of 358, a lead of 122 over Sri Lanka by the halfway mark of the match.
Jamie Smith’s maiden Test century led the batting effort, followed by a typically entertaining cameo from Mark Wood, who smashed 22 runs off just 13 balls, including three boundaries and a six. However, it was an unexpected star from the crowd who stole the spotlight during this brief period of play—and for good reason.
When Sri Lanka opted for the new ball in the 83rd over, Asitha Fernando charged in with a sharp bouncer aimed at Wood. But Wood was ready, clearing his front leg and launching the ball for a massive six over square leg. The cheers grew even louder when the ball landed perfectly in the hands of a fan, who made an incredible clean catch.
Replays showed that the ball nestled effortlessly into the hands of the England supporter, who took full advantage of his moment in the spotlight, saluting the crowd and celebrating with those around him. Even more impressively, he managed to hold onto a pint in his other hand without spilling a drop.
— Gill Bill (@bill_gill76078) August 23, 2024
As the replays played on the big screen, the cameras captured the English balcony, where Marcus Trescothick chuckled and Paul Collingwood reenacted the catch, clearly impressed by the fan’s flawless effort. Twitter was equally abuzz, marveling at the remarkable moment.