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5 months ago
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He might have been omitted from Australia's T20 squad for the World Cup in the United States and the West Indies, but you can't keep excitable Queenslander Marnus Labuschagne away from the highlight reels for long.
Labuschagne pulled off a contender for catch of the year during Glamorgan's T20 Blast match against Gloucestershire in Cardiff on Thursday.
Chasing a 141-run target, Gloucestershire found themselves struggling at 4-45 when Ben Charlesworth drove a full delivery from Glamorgan leg-spinner Mason Crane.
Labuschagne sprinted from long-on and made a remarkable diving catch, inches from the turf, removing Charlesworth for 10 (8).
Labuschagne stunned Glamorgan supporters with this grab in the T20 Vitality Blast
The Aussie missed out on the T20 World Cup side which is why he playing in England instead
Fans were left staggered by the diving effort with some praising it as the best catch they had ever seen.
'Can't remember a better catch. Unbelievable,' one fan replied to the footage.
'You can't keep my boy away from the game,' posted another.
'This guy is a superb professional. Some of the others need to study him closely,' suggested another.
Other fans were just left in raptures by the trademark Marnuschagne celebrations after taking the catch.
'What a catch, matched only by the celebration. He is like an excitable puppy, bless 'im,' one Glamorgan fan commented.
'The guys enthusiasm is infections ... superb catch and outstanding celebration,' said another,
Labuschagne's catch wasn't enough to secure victory with Gloucestershire bowler clubbing a six off the final ball for the win
Despite the stunning catch, Gloucestershire captain Jack Taylor's blistering 70 (48) kept his team in contention.
The match reached its climax in the final over, which saw Taylor run out while chasing a second run.
With Gloucestershire needing seven from the last two balls, bowler Josh Shaw came to the crease.
He scored two runs from the penultimate ball, leaving five needed from the final delivery.
Shaw then hit a six over the long-on boundary, securing a thrilling two-wicket victory for Gloucestershire.
Labuschagne will get a chance to push his leadership credentials this summer as captain of the Queensland Bulls
Labuschagne, who earlier scored 18 (15), has compiled 119 runs at an average of 19.83 this season.
His catch was the highlight of the match, but Shaw's final-ball heroics were the most dramatic.
The loss has virtually ended Glamorgan's push for a finals berth.
While he missed the T20 World Cup, Labuschagne will have the chance to establish his credentials as a potential future Australia captain after he was named Queensland's new leader for the 2024-25 season.
He will captain Queensland in the Marsh Cup and Sheffield Shield while Usman Khawaja who will remain captain of Brisbane Heat in the BBL.
'It is an ideal opportunity for Marnus to once again showcase his leadership abilities and provide him with experience at first class and one-day level,' Queensland Cricket CEO Terry Svenson said.
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