'What the heck…joke that': Ben Stokes stunned by England bowler's mind-jolting reflex catch

During the Vitality T20 Blast 2024 match between Durham and Lancashire, Durham pacer Paul Coughlin pulled off a stunning catch in his follow-through, dismissing Lancashire batsman Matthew Hurst. The incident, which occurred in the 7th over of the second innings, left fans and players alike in awe.

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Ben Stokes reacts to Paul Coughlin's stunning catch

Matthew Hurst, attempting to step down the track, ended up with a leading edge on the ball. In an effort to protect himself, Paul Coughlin inadvertently positioned his hands perfectly to make the catch, resulting in an unbelievable dismissal. Hurst, who was batting impressively, was sent back to the pavilion for 32 off 17 balls.

England's Test captain Ben Stokes was among those who praised Coughlin's extraordinary effort. He reshared the video on his official Twitter handle, captioning it, "What the heck…joke that," expressing his astonishment at the catch.

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Durham vs Lancashire

The match itself was a high-scoring thriller. Graham Clark and David Bedingham spearheaded Durham's innings with a spectacular 109-run partnership. Clark scored 87 from 57 balls, hitting eight fours and four sixes, while Bedingham added 78 from 42 balls, including seven fours and four sixes. Their contributions helped Durham post a mammoth total of 218/3, their highest against Lancashire in T20s.

Lancashire faced a daunting chase and needed a strong start. Despite their efforts, they lost wickets at regular intervals, making the task even more challenging. In the end, the visitors fell just short, losing by a mere two runs in a thrilling contest. Paul Coughlin's catch became the highlight of the match.