India, Feb. 17 -- Pathum Nissanka took a few paces back as his compatriot Dushan Hemantha sent in a slightly over-pitched delivery. Nissanka, standing at backward point, had spotted Glenn Maxwell changing sides to get into a left-hander's stance and try a switch-hit over what would be the third-man fielding position for a right-hander.

Two quick paces to his left, and Nissanka launched himself into a dive, stretching every sinew to take an astounding catch.

That catch was taken just a few minutes after he had put down a skier from Maxwell. But in his moment of redemption, he effectively marked the downward spiral of the Australia innings.

Just over an hour later, he removed his helmet and held a finger to his lips to celebrate his 52-b...