Moments of magic in sports can often shift the momentum of a game between two sides. If not for the shift in game momentum, Haris Rauf’s scintillating one-handed catch in the opening over of the third T20I between New Zealand and Pakistan certainly grabbed eyeballs after sending Finn Allen packing.
Following a couple of wins in the five-match T20I series, Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first in the must-win clash to avoid a series loss. With a bunch of youngsters in the lineup, the experienced duo of Shaheen Afridi and Rauf tried to offer the visitors a dream start with the latter taking a mind-boggling catch to remove Auckland Ace opener Allen.
The fifth ball of the opening over the first innings was a fuller one, nipping in at the leg from Shaheen Afridi. Allen tried to flick it with a quick jab but got the inside half at it as the ball flew towards the right of Rauf at short fine leg. The right-arm pacer swerved to his right and plucked the ball with one hand in a jiffy. He had had to dive sideways, outstretched, and grabbed the ball firm before thudding the soil. Seeing the immaculate effort from Rauf, Allen walked off the field smiling, leaving the Twitterverse abuzz.
Rauf defies gravity and grabs an absolute stunner 🤯
Watch #NZvPAK 3️⃣rd T20I – LIVE NOW on #SonyLIV 📲 pic.twitter.com/QYCcBySXXp— Sony LIV (@SonyLIV) March 21, 2025
WHAT A CATCH BY HARIS RAUF 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/nFR0JvmH4m
— MixUpInfo (@MixUpInfo03) March 21, 2025
Brilliant!
His day!
Haris Rauf grabs his third! Ish Sodhi departs! 🔥🏏
Follow live: https://t.co/HyhcZpLUkB#PAKvNZ #T20ISeries #PakistanCricket pic.twitter.com/es34lvydPX— Cricket Pakistan (@cricketpakcompk) March 21, 2025
WATCH: Haris Rauf’s stunning catch against New Zealand’s Finn Allen https://t.co/n73DtzZBnB
— Akhbarpoint (@akhbarpoint) March 21, 2025
What a stunner!
True!
Haris Rauf was absolutely brilliant today 🔥🔥.#PAKvNZ
— ولی عمران (@MrDheethun) March 21, 2025
🚨 HARIS RAUF 🔥🔥🔥🇵🇰🤯#PakistanCricket #PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/TndlkcOHJV
— MI FANPARK (@Indianomy_) March 21, 2025
Stunning catch!
Good One!
HARIS RAUF PULLS OFF A WORLD-CLASS CATCH! SHAHEEN AFRIDI SECURES A WICKET IN THE FIRST OVER. 👏😱#PAKvNZ pic.twitter.com/17vdZP0MLa
— CricWorld (@CricWorld099) March 21, 2025
