Cricket isn’t a sport that has quite broken through into the mainstream in the United States and plenty of American sports fans would be hard-pressed to explain how the game works. However, we can all appreciate a stunning feat of athleticism and effort when we see it.
India Women took on England Women in a three-match series on Friday as part of the Twenty20 International (T20I). They ended up losing the series, but India’s Harleen Deol pulled off a pretty spectacular catch to end one English batter’s knock that could have resulted in further points.
After Amy Ellen-Jones smacked the ball deep towards the boundary ropes, Deol lept into the air to make the grab. Realizing that she was about to step over the ropes, she had the presence of mind to throw the ball in the air, keeping it in the field of play, and then jumped back into regulation space in order to complete the catch and prevent a six (Six runs are scored if the cricket ball does not bounce before passing over the boundary in the air and then hits the ground).
Not only was Deol surrounded immediately by teammates but she also received plenty of respect from English players (as well as their social media team above).
The accolades and praise for the “catch of the year” rolled in pretty quickly afterward.
If you don’t know much about cricket, perhaps plays like this might make you want to take a closer look. If nothing else, to see what Harleen Deol does next.