Joe Root overtook former Australian captain Ricky Ponting for the most number of outfield catches in a single edition of the World Cup. The England vice-captain showed terrific reflexes to catch Pat Cummins off the bowling of Adil Rashid during the AUS vs ENG semi-final match in ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. The catch at first slip to remove Cummins was Root’s 12th catch in CWC 2019.  Australia vs England Live Cricket Score of ICC World Cup 2019 Semi-Final Match.

Root was positioned at first slip in the 38th over of the Australian innings when he reached the milestone. The defending champions were already struggling at 166/6 having lost their entire batting order to some clever English bowling. Cummins had just joined Steve Smith at the crease after Jofra Archer foxed Glenn Maxwell with a slower delivery. Watch Video: Alex Carey Hit on Chin by Jofra Archer, Wicket-Keeper Batsman Bleeds But Continues to Bat.

Watch Joe Root Overtake Ricky Ponting:

The incident occurred in the fourth delivery of the 38th over when Cummins nicked a googly from Rashid to first slip. But despite the catch being flat and travelling low, Root showed good skills to bend low and hold on to the catch to reach the landmark. Most Wickets in Single World Cup: Mitchell Starc Needs 1 Wicket to Break Glenn McGrath's Record.

Records Tumbled And Records Were Created

Root was equal with Ponting on 11 catches prior to the semi-final encounter in Edgbaston. Ponting had taken 11 catches in Australia’s victorious 2003 World Cup campaign and held the record for 16 long years before Root overtook it. Faf du Plessis is third on the list with 10 catches in CWC 2019, while fellow South African Rilee Rossouw is fourth with 9 catches in the 2015 edition.

Earlier, Australia had won the toss and elected to bat first. But the decision proved otherwise with Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes removing both the Australian openers (Aaron Finch and David Warner) inside three overs. Woakes then went through Peter Handscomb for his second wicket before Rashid started his show with a three-wicket haul.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 11, 2019 06:45 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).