A tense moment unfolded during the South Africa vs New Zealand first semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 when South Africa captain Aiden Markram was dismissed in a catch that initially raised doubts about whether it was taken cleanly.
The incident took place in the 8th over of South Africa’s innings when Rachin Ravindra bowled a delivery angling into middle and leg. Markram attempted to loft the ball down the ground but did not connect well. The shot came off the thick inside half of the bat and travelled flat towards long-on, where Daryl Mitchell ran forward and attempted a diving catch.
Mitchell put in a full-length dive and grabbed the ball inches above the turf, but the catch immediately appeared extremely close to the ground. In fact, Mitchell himself did not celebrate straightaway and indicated uncertainty, prompting the umpires to refer the decision upstairs.
On-field umpire Alex Wharf sent the decision to the third umpire, Nitin Menon, to determine whether the ball had touched the ground during the catch.
The front-angle replays initially made the catch look doubtful, suggesting the ball might have brushed the turf during Mitchell’s dive. However, when the side-on replay was shown, it appeared that Mitchell had managed to get his fingers underneath the ball before it touched the ground.
After reviewing the available angles, third umpire Nitin Menon was satisfied with the side-on evidence and ruled the catch clean, confirming Markram’s dismissal.
Markram departed for 18 off 20 balls, which included one four and one six, with the score reading 55/3 in 7.4 overs.
Even in the commentary box, the decision sparked discussion. English commentators initially felt the catch looked not out from the front angle, but after viewing the side-on replay, many agreed that it appeared to be a fair catch.
Despite the final decision, the moment remained a touch-and-go call, adding drama to the high-pressure World Cup semi-final clash.