In the third match of The Men’s Hundred 2023 competition, representing the London Spirit, Australia’s Matthew Wade displayed an extraordinary feat in the field by saving a thunderous sixer, preventing four runs for his team during the tense final moments of their clash against the Oval Invincibles.
The highly anticipated match took place at the iconic Lord’s venue on Wednesday night, where the Oval Invincibles narrowly triumphed by 3 wickets with just one ball remaining in their pursuit of 132 runs.
As the match approached its climax, with the fielding side having a slight edge, London Spirit’s Matthew Wade, positioned at the deep square leg boundary, showed off his incredible athleticism and dedication to the game. Despite not being the designated wicket-keeper, as Adam Rossington was fulfilling that role, Wade’s presence on the field made a significant impact.
In the crucial scenario where 18 runs were needed off the last 7 balls, Tom Curran of the Oval Invincibles struck a low full toss from Jordan Thompson towards the leg side, seemingly headed for a six. However, Matthew Wade, standing close to the boundary line, soared into the air and skillfully caught the ball with both hands. Realizing that he was about to cross the boundary, Wade quickly pushed the ball back into the playing field while still airborne, preventing the six from being scored.
He immediately got back on his feet and made a rapid throw, nearly running out the non-striker, Sunil Narine. Upon review, it was evident that Wade was mere inches away from the boundary fence, making his effort all the more remarkable as he successfully saved four runs for his team. The spectators at Lord’s showered him with applause for his extraordinary display.
We'll have that on repeat, Matthew Wade! 😮💨🔁#TheHundred pic.twitter.com/LvxjWhgP7T
— The Hundred (@thehundred) August 2, 2023
Despite Wade’s sensational and team-lifting performance, the Oval Invincibles eventually secured victory, thanks to Sunil Narine’s heroics. Narine smashed a crucial six and a four off Ellis when 12 runs were needed from the last four balls, displaying an outstanding all-round performance. As a result, Sunil Narine deservedly claimed the Player of the Match award for his remarkable contributions.