The Women’s ODI Tri-Series witnessed a breathtaking moment of brilliance on Thursday as Sri Lanka’s Nilakshi de Silva pulled off one of the finest catches seen in recent times to dismiss South Africa’s Chloe Tryon. In a match where fielding errors were frequent, Nilakshi’s gravity-defying effort not only stunned the opposition but also gave Sri Lanka a much-needed boost on the field.
Nilakshi de Silva takes a stunning catch to dismiss Chloe Tyron
In the 41st over of the innings, Tryon looked to accelerate by stepping out and launching Dewmi Vihanga over deep midwicket. The shot seemed destined to clear the ropes, but Nilakshi had other plans. Sprinting across the boundary, she dived full-stretch to her left, clasped the ball mid-air, and held onto it despite tumbling hard onto the ground. For a moment, even she wasn’t sure if her feet had touched the ropes, but a quick third umpire review confirmed the catch was clean. Tryon, visibly stunned, had to walk back for 18 as Nilakshi was mobbed by her teammates in celebration.
Here is the video:
𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭, 𝐍𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐢 𝐝𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐚…😱
She plucks the ball out of thin air to send Chloe Tryon back and break a budding partnership between the former and Annerie Dercksen 🙌#SLvSA #TriSeries #ODISeries pic.twitter.com/EdUQsiH74l
— FanCode (@FanCode) May 2, 2025
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South Africa post challenging 235/9 after strong middle-order resistance
South Africa, electing to bat first, posted a competitive total of 235/9 in their allotted 50 overs, thanks largely to a gritty unbeaten 61 from Annerie Dercksen and a solid 46 by Lara Goodall. The middle-order partnership provided stability after early hiccups. For Sri Lanka, Malki Madara led the bowling attack with an impressive 4/50, while Dewmi Vihanga continued her excellent form, bagging 3/41 including the key wicket of Tryon. Despite lapses in the field, Sri Lanka’s bowlers ensured South Africa didn’t run away with the game.
While the final result may swing either way, Nilakshi’s sensational catch is already etched in memory as a defining moment of the match and perhaps the series. It’s a glowing example of the rising fielding standards in women’s cricket and a reminder that moments of magic can come when least expected.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
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