Australia’s Steve Smith broke the Test record for the most catches by a fielder when he caught South Africa’s David Bedingham on the third day of the first Test at Kingsmead on Sunday.
It was Smith’s 221st catch, one more than taken by Joe Root of England.
Smith, playing in his 126th Test, lunged to his left from second slip to hold a sharp edge from Bedingham off Australian captain Pat Cummins.
He equalled the record earlier fielding at a lone slip when South African captain Temba Bavuma reverse swept off-spinner Nathan Lyon. Smith anticipated, moving to his right and Bavuma’s mistimed shot went straight into his hands.
Smith thought he had taken another catch when he held a low edge from Wiaan Mulder at slip in the over before lunch. Mulder started walking off the field but the umpires reviewed the incident and decided the ball had not carried.
Despite the reprieve, South Africa were struggling at 115 for four at lunch in reply to Australia’s 390 all out.
