South African leg spinner Nqabayomzi Peter came ever so close to replicating cricket’s most famous, or infamous depending on which side of the fence you sit on, dropped catch during the Proteas’ 53-run victory in the second T20 against Australia in Darwin.
The 23-year-old produced an excellent diving catch at mid-wicket to dismiss Cameron Green off the bowling of 19-year-old left arm quick Kwena Maphaka, but Peter almost butchered it.
The South Africans were pumped up as Green (9 off 7) was looking ominous, having struck his previous two deliveries for four, including smacking Maphaka back over his head the ball prior.
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But Peter’s eagerness to celebrate, with the hosts at 2/29 off 3.3 overs in pursuit of 219, almost kept Green at the crease as the ball spilt out of his hand as he attempted to throw it up in the air in celebration.
Everyone’s minds were immediately cast back to 1999 when Herschelle Gibbs remarkably dropped Australian captain Steve Waugh in similar fashion during a World Cup super six clash at Headingley.
“It’s very similar to a situation between these two sides and your brother,” Fox Cricket’s Mark Howard said to fellow commentator Mark Waugh.
Waugh clipped the ball to Gibbs at mid-wicket, who let the ball slip from his grasp as he went to throw it up in celebration, and the umpires ruled it not out.
The drop catch has been a big part of cricket folklore in the 26 years since with stories of the late Shane Warne telling teammates in the meeting the day prior to stand their ground if caught by Gibbs because he has a tendency to let go of it quickly often being shared.
But the most famous of all was that Waugh allegedly told Gibbs he had dropped the World Cup before going onto score an unbeaten 120 off 110 balls in Australia’s successful run chase.
Victory booked a return bout between the team in the famous tied semi-final at Edgbaston with Australia advancing after Allan Donald was run out in a mix-up with Lance Klusener that still haunts South Africans.
Waugh’s men then went on to win the first of three straight World Cups, demolishing Pakistan in the final at Lords.
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The stakes were not quite as high this time around, however.
Although, like Waugh, Green thought the ruling may go in his favour as the third umpire reviewed the vision.
He even turned around and began walking back to the crease as the crowd cheered before the big screen showed he was deemed out.
Waugh believed that like the incident involving his twin brother, the correct call was made.
“Great catch actually,” Waugh said.
“Great catch there from Peter at mid-wicket. Had to go low to his right. He completed the catch in his left hand and then he went the stand up and throw.
“Got to work on his celebrations, mind you!
“But right decision.”
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Fellow Fox Cricket commentator Kerry O’Keeffe agreed that the right outcome was reached, but issued some stern advice for Peter and any other cricketers going forward.
“I think wise policy when there’s dew around, if you catch it, just hold onto it!” O’Keeffe said.
“Chances it could spill out in a celebration, pretty high.
“He’s caught it cleanly. Lovely grab but then quickly wanted to get rid of it and gee up.
“No, hold on son.”