It was Smith’s 221st catch, one more than the previous record held by England’s Joe Root. Smith, playing in his 126th Test, lunged to his left at second slip to hold a sharp edge from Bedingham off Australian captain Pat Cummins. Smith anticipated the shot, moved to his right and safely held Bavuma’s mistimed effort.
He had equalled the record earlier while fielding at lone slip when South Africa captain Temba Bavuma reverse-swept off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Australia’s Steve Smith broke the Test record for the most catches by a fielder when he caught South Africa’s David Bedingham on the third day of the first Test at Kingsmead on Sunday.
Despite the reprieve, South Africa were struggling at 115 for four at lunch in reply to Australia’s 390 all out. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Smith thought he had taken another catch when he held a low edge from Wiaan Mulder at slip in the over before lunch. Mulder initially began walking off the field, but the umpires reviewed the incident and ruled that the ball had not carried cleanly.
