A security guard took a catch at the BBL

AN INSANELY relaxed security guy at last night’s Big Bash game in Adelaide had the crowd on its feet, even though he didn’t move out of his seat.

What a catch! The security guard takes it all in his stride.

A SECURITY guard at Wednesday night’s BBL game between the Adelaide Strikers and Brisbane Heat gave the crowd even more to cheer about than normal.

In the 18th over of the Heat’s innings, former Test opener Joe Burns hooked Kane Richardson for six over the short square boundary at the Adelaide Oval. Deep square leg didn’t stand a chance of reigning the Kookaburra in, but the man in red beyond the boundary sure did.

Keeping an eye on the crowd while sitting on his chair, the security guard didn’t have to move as the ball hit him straight on the chest. He showed clean hands to take an easy catch, but the most surprising thing about the play was how nonchalant he was when he swallowed the pill.

He just casually lobbed the ball back in the field of play, his facial expression barely changed at all and he just gave a brief thumbs up to the crowd.

CHECK OUT HIS CATCH IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

The Heat survived a Ben Dunk whirlwind to defeat the Strikers by 10 runs in the second BBL clash of the season.

Former Hobart Hurricanes star Dunk was in a murderous mood, belting 85 off 43 balls, as Brisbane’s imposing 5-206 looked within reach.

With Dunk at the crease dispatching the Heat bowlers to all corners and Jake Weatherald’s nerveless 52 on his BBL debut, the home side was well placed. The pair put on 133 off 67 balls for the opening wicket before both holed out in the space of eight balls.

Dunk’s exit and the introduction of West Indian spinner Samuel Badree, who stifled Travis Head with a maiden in the 14th over, halted Adelaide’s momentum, which the home side was never able to recapture.

Head (23) never quite got going, eventually top-edging a catch to Badree off leg-spinner Mitch Swepson, who bowled a fine 18th over.

Ben Dunk couldn’t get the Strikers the win.

Kieron Pollard (one) and Jake Lehmann (first ball duck) had their castles disturbed, the home side fading at the death, finishing on 6-196. Mark Steketee was the pick of the bowlers with 3-32 while Ben Cutting grabbed 2-46.

Earlier, Alex Ross cracked 64 against his old side to build on the foundation laid by Heat keeper Jimmy Peirson (46) and Brendon McCullum (42) who smashed 90 in the first eight overs.

Former Black Caps master blaster McCullum should have been run out on 35 and was grassed by Kane Richardson before Pollard (2-27) snared Peirson and McCullum off successive deliveries.

Pollard further shifted the momentum after his high-leaping catch at deep mid-wicket sent danger man Chris Lynn (29) packing.

The scoring rate temporarily slowed before Ross took charge. Ross paid tribute to Badree’s match-turning 14th over maiden, on the back of Dunk’s dismissal.

“In hindsight it was a pivotal over — it turned the game,” Ross said. “Then Cutts and Stek at the end, under pressure were awesome.

“If we can do that all season we’ll be a very tough team to beat.”

“When you’re chasing over 200, everything needs to go right,” Dunk said. “Between us (Dunk and Weatherald), we gave ourselves a chance.

“Full credit to the Heat, they bowled really good death bowling and we couldn’t quite get the job done.”

Originally published as A security guard took a catch at the BBL