The best catches of 2019 the Cricket World Cup so far - watch and then cast a vote

Steve Smith and Martin Guptill both laid a reasonable claim to have snagged the catch of the World Cup in Australia’s win over the Kiwis. But where do they really rate? Watch the clips and then you be the judge.

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Australia’s World Cup win over New Zealand contained not one but two candidates for catch of the tournament.

But where do Steve Smith’s ripper and Martin Guptill’s sharp take rank on the list that Ben Stokes started way back in the opening fixture?

Ben Stokes (ENGLAND v South Africa)

Running backward toward the boundary rope, England allrounder Stokes leapt high and took an improbable one-handed catch on the stretch to dismiss Andile Phehlukwayo. It sparked gasps in the crowd at The Oval and amazement across social media.

“It’s the best catch I’ve ever seen in the flesh,” former England spinner Graeme Swann posted on Twitter. Ex-England captain Nasser Hussain labelled it the greatest ever catch.

Stokes said it was a “regulation catch” if he had been in the right position.

“I was further in than I should have been,” he said. “Luckily it stuck.”

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Martin Guptill (NEW ZEALAND v Australia)

After putting down two easier chances, Guptill was one of a raft of Kiwis who had an off day against their trans-Tasman neighbours.

It didn’t make up for it in terms of runs given up, but Guptill did get the crowd off their seats with an absolute screamer to remove Steve Smith.

Smith pulled a short delivery off New Zealand paceman Lockie Ferguson but Guptill, stationed at leg gully, leapt to his left and plucked the ball out of the air with one hand.

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Faf du Plessis (SOUTH AFRICA v England)

It has been a tournament to forget for South Africa, out what seems like weeks ago and with only a dead rubber against Australia left to play for pride/try and avoid humiliation in.

But even their horror show of a campaign contained a few bright moments.

None more than this glorious diving take in the deep from skipper Faf du Plessis. Moeen Ali tried to hit Lungi Ngidi to the stands but Du Plessis was on hand to remove the English batsman.

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Sheldon Cotterill (WEST INDIES v Australia)

Steve Smith - who features one way or another in several of these entries - fell victim to what some people argued at the time was the catch of the World Cup, after West Indies quick Sheldon Cottrell pulled off a one-handed screamer in the deep.

After Smith rescued Australia from an embarrassing top-order collapse, he looked set to threaten three figures. But that was before Cottrell worked his magic with the former Australian skipper on 73.

Looking to up the ante with six overs to go, Smith flicked quick Oshane Thomas towards backward square leg. Cottrell sprinted around, sticking out his left arm and plucking the ball out of the air as it went over the boundary.

He then had to release the ball as he ran over the rope, before returning to the field and reclaiming the Kookaburra.

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Steve Smith (AUSTRALIA v New Zealand)

In a game that featured several incredible catches Smith’s effort was pretty much as good as they come.

Tom Latham smoked one back to Smith at short midwicket off the bowling of Mitchell Starc. And it was absolutely flying. Not an problem for Smith, though, who reaches behind himself to pluck it out of the air.

Latham went for 14 as a consequence leaving New Zealand are 6-125 and their doomed chase in a heap on the floor.

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Aaron Finch/Glenn Maxwell (AUSTRALIA v England)

With England on the ropes Chris Woakes tried in vain to revive its challenge against Australia, only to be dismissed in the most casual and dismissive way possible.

The England batsman heaved one to the boundary where Glenn Maxwell leapt, took the catch, then realised he was about to step over the line.

In one movement he just flicked the ball back in to the field right in to the reliable hands of skipper Aaron Finch.

The pair could barely keep themselves from laughing as they celebrated.

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A Cameraman (South Africa v Bangladesh)

When South Africa’s Faf du Plessis smashed a six at The Oval to bring up his half-century against Bangladesh there were not one but two cheers.

First for the shot. Then for the catch. One-handed, no less, from a man doing a day job other than playing cricket.

Splendid stuff.