‘Crowd catch of the summer’: Adelaide Oval steward becomes instant cult hero

Adelaide Oval spectators witnessed the catch of the summer on Sunday afternoon, but the one-handed grab didn’t take place on the field.

This venue patron became an immediate cult hero.

Have we just witnessed the catch of the summer?

A venue steward at Adelaide Oval has turned heads with an “outstanding” one-handed grab during the T20 World Cup match between South Africa and the Netherland on Sunday afternoon.

In the final over of the Netherlands’ innings, Dutch batter Colin Ackermann cleared the front leg and flicked Proteas seamer Wayne Parnell over the square leg boundary for his first six of the afternoon.

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Standing towards the back of the Western Stand’s bottom tier, the venue staffer nonchalantly stretched out his left arm and caught the Kookaburra with one hand.

The young man threw the ball back before receiving a congratulatory pat in the back from a nearby spectator.

“That is outstanding,” former New Zealand bowler Simon Doull said on commentary.

“Thrust out the left hand and has pouched it.”

Applause echoed around the South Australian venue when replays were broadcast on the big screen.

As easy as you like.

Is it too late to sign this guy for the Big Bash?

Give that Adelaide Oval steward the catch of the tournament award already #T20WorldCup

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) November 6, 2022

Crowd catch of the summer and it's not even technically summer yet#T20WorldCup#NEDvsSA

— Alex Conrad (@alexhconrad) November 6, 2022

Three deliveries later, Ackermann played an almost identical shot into the same area, with cricket’s newest cult hero lunging forward for a second attempt.

But on this occasion, the ball struck the seats in front of him, marginally out of reach.

“Lack of commitment,” former Black Caps wicketkeeper Ian Smith laugh on commentary.

The Netherlands registered 4/158 from their 20 overs, setting up an awkward run chase for the South Africans, who need nothing less than a victory to secure their place in the semi-finals.

Ackermann top-scored for the Dutch with an unbeaten 41 off 26 balls, while Proteas paceman Anrich Nortje was superb with figures of 1/10 from four overs.

Not to be outdone, Netherlands veteran Roelof van der Merwe claimed a stunning catch over his shoulder during the run chase to dismiss South African batter David Miller for 17.