Ben Stokes doesn't rate Phehlukwayo catch as his best ever; this is the one he does

Tags: Cricket World Cup 2019, England Vs South Africa,1st Match at London, May 30, 2019, England, South Africa, Benjamin Andrew Stokes, Catch

Published on: May 31, 2019

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Even as the cricketing fraternity and fans are going gaga over Ben Stokes' incredible catch in the World Cup opener against South Africa

Even as the cricketing fraternity and fans are going gaga over Ben Stokes' incredible catch in the World Cup opener against South Africa, the man himself insists it wasn't the best grab of his career.

Stokes was the standout performer for England, slamming 89 from 79 balls to take Australia past 300. He was among the wickets as well, bringing a swift end to South Africa's chase. But, it was his incredible catch that grabbed the limelight in England's 104-run triumph.Stokes dived backward to take a one-handed catch near the boundary to dismiss Andile Phehlukwayo off Adil Rashid. The all-rounder, however, said the catch he took to dismiss Adam Voges standing at gully during the 2015 Ashes Test at Trent Bridge was his best.On being asked if this was his greatest catch ever, Stokes replied in the negative. "Nah, that one was against the Aussies, so that one ranks higher!"

Explaining Thursday's catch, he added, "I was actually in the wrong position. It would have been a regulation catch if I was in the right place, but yeah it is one of those that sticks or doesn't."

"I bowled the next over and Eoin Morgan had to come to me and ask if my heart rate had gone down. Things like that catch do get you fizzed up. I didn't really know quite hard to react, to be honest. I just tried to take it in," Stokes further said.

Apart from Stokes, Jofra Archer also made his much-anticipated World Cup debut and lived up to all the hype around him with three wickets. He dealt South Africa a psychological blow when Hashim Amla had to retire hurt after being hit on the helmet and then claimed three wickets with his nippy pace to leave South Africa reeling.

"I played with him at Rajasthan for the last two years and the way he went about things in the Pakistan series, it's so good to see the ball flying through and the pace he's got," Stokes said.

"The future is obviously bright for him," Stokes concluded.

--By A Cricket Correspondent

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