Watch: Tim Southee turns Superman to take one-handed blinder during SL vs NZ 1st Test

New Zealand captain Tim Southee has one of the best hands in the current cricketing world. Southee can be mostly seen in the slip cordon which is a rare position for a fast bowler. But the veteran produced a jaw-dropping moment during the first Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand at Galle.

Fast bowler William O’Rourke was bowling the third over of Sri Lanka's second innings. In the fifth ball of the over, the youngster bowled a back-of-a-length ball just outside off stump. The pace of O'Rourke resulted in some bounce from the surface and it took Pathum Nissanka by surprise.

Nissanka tried to defend but the ball hit the shoulder of his bat and the edge flew to the right of Tim Southee, who was standing at second slip. Southee flew in the air to his right with a full stretch and plucked the ball with his right hand.

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Watch: Tim Southee flies in the air and takes a one-handed blinder

WHAT A CATCH BY 35-YEAR-OLD TIM SOUTHEE. 🤯🙇

- One of the best in 2024...!!!! pic.twitter.com/RVM4l1xHC6

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 20, 2024

Tim Southee has taken a no. of unbelievable catches in his playing career and it was another stunning catch from the New Zealand skipper. He is one of the safest fielders at the slip cordon in the world.

The wicket of Pathum Nissanka was the first wicket to fall in Sri Lanka's second innings. It was a perfect display of a team game as William O’Rourke bowled an excellent ball on a slow surface and Tim Southee completed the wicket with a catch of the highest order.

Kamindu Mendis maintains his good form

Coming to the match, Sri Lanka batted first and scored 305 in the first innings. Youngster Kamindu Mendis continued his good form from England and scored his third Test hundred in 6 matches.

Apart from Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis also scored an important fifty. Young New Zealand fast bowler impressed with his first Test in the subcontinent with 5-55. Ajaz Patel and Glenn Phillips picked up two wickets each.

New Zealand responded strongly in their reply with all the batters in the top seven getting starts. However, none of them scored a hundred. Opener Tom Latham top-scored with 70 while Kane Williamson and Daryl Mitchell also chipped in valuable fifties.

New Zealand surrendered a dominating position

Glenn Phillips scored a quickfire 49 in the end and remained unbeaten. Sri Lanka did not waste any time in dismissing the NZ tailenders quickly. It was all about Sri Lanka's spinners as they picked up 9 wickets between them. The other one was a runout. New Zealand scored 340 runs, thus taking a first innings lead of 35 runs.

The visitors were 255-4 at the end of Day 2 but the Lankan bowlers came back strongly to keep themselves in the game. Sri Lanka need to bat well in their second innings and they will expect their experienced batters to put their hands up. Chasing a target in the fourth innings at Galle is always a difficult task.