ENG vs SA: Tristan Stubbs grabs one-handed stunner to send back Moeen Ali in final T20I

South Africa won against England by 90 runs in the third T20I in Southampton on July 31, Sunday. The visitors also wrapped up the three-match series 2-1, making it two losses on the spin for England in the summer. It was a clinical performance by the Proteas on the night, led by Reeza Hendricks and Tabraiz Shamsi.

One moment from the game caught the attention of one and all came in the 10th over when South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs took a stunning one-handed catch to send Moeen Ali back to the pavilion. It was a leading edge off Ali, and the ball ballooned into the cover region. 

Stubbs ran to his left and plucked it out of the air with his left hand, following a stunning dive. His ecstatic teammates immediately swarmed him, and the game was virtually off their grasp as they had lost their fourth wicket for only 59 runs.

Tristan Stubbs is supremely athletic

“He is some cricketer, this Tristan Stubbs! That is breathtakingly good,” said a commentator on the air. “He sure is. He is a big tall man. But he showed that he is supremely athletic there. Absolutely brilliant,” exclaimed another.

One of the best catches you'll ever see 👏

Scorecard/clips: https://t.co/kgIS4BWSbC

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #ENGvSA 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/FBlAOf3HUM

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 31, 2022

It was a series decider, and England put South Africa to bat first. David Miller’s men were put on the back foot straight away as opener Quinton de Kock departed for a duck in the first over. His partner Reeza Hendricks top-scored in the game with 70 runs off 50 balls. It was finished off by Aiden Markram with an unbeaten 51 runs off 36 balls. David Willey was the pick of the English bowlers, picking up three wickets for 25 runs.

England, with a target of 192, got off to a slow start, scoring 39 runs in the six-over powerplay for the loss of two wickets. The top scorer for the Three Lions was Jonny Bairstow, who scored 27 off 30 balls. None of the other English batters went past the score of 20, and eventually, they were bowled out for 101 in 16.4 overs. Spinner Shamsi starred with the ball, bagging five wickets for 24 runs in four overs. The two teams will now meet for three Tests, starting on August 17.