Daniel Sams flew through the air to take a spectacular catch in the Big Bash tonight. When he got up to celebrate, he realised it wouldn’t count.
The Big Bash League has no shortage of brilliant fielding but the Sydney Thunder’s Daniel Sams’ excellent effort has cost his team three runs against the Melbourne Stars.
The Stars claimed a thrilling four-run win, as Adam Zampa held his nerve to keep the final over to just six of the required 11.
But a brutal error has cost the Thunder dearly early in the night.
The Thunder were well on top in the clash at the MCG on Friday night with the Stars 3/81 in the 14th over.
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Nathan McAndrew had two dot balls to start the over and it looked like the Thunder had snagged another one when Nick Larkin smashed a ball into the deep fine leg area.
Sams, who was enough paces inside the boundary to take a spectacular diving catch and land short of giving away a six.
While it was no Jake Fraser-McGurk from earlier in the week, it was still a top effort.
“A little bit of mayo maybe,” Mel Jones said of the grab.
Aussie white-ball skipper Aaron Finch said: “That is absolute mayo.”
Sams threw the ball up in the air to celebrate the catch — but the batsmen kept running.
It was only then that he appeared to realise the umpire had his arm out calling a no ball.
“Daniel Sams, he didn’t know, he couldn’t hear, celebrating while the Melbourne Stars kept on running,” Jones said.
Andrew Symonds said: “He’s a mile away from the umpire, about 100m away from the umpire down there.”
The batsmen ended up running three, got the no ball and a single off the free hit.
At least social media found it funny.
The day got no better for Sams either as he was spanked for 0/50 off his four overs, including 18 off his final over.
The Stars, who were fairly shut down early, romped home as Larkin rubbed in his extra life, finishing 52 not out off 43 balls.
He combined with Hilton Cartwright (42 off 30 balls) for an 80 run stand and Andre Russell’s nine-ball 17 not out to guide the Stars to 4/165 off the 20 overs.
The Stars hit 83 off the last seven overs.
The Thunder looked well on top with Matthew Gilkes (56 off 49 balls) and Sam Billings (43 from 31 balls) but good bowling left the Sydneysiders needing 11 off the final over.
Ben Cutting needed a four to send the game to a Super Over or a six to outright win the match and missed the ball after giving himself some room, allowing the Stars to bounce back from an embarrassing opening night thrashing.
Originally published as Daniel Sams’ brilliant acrobatic outfield catch is completely pointless
