Cricket: Black Caps bowler Trent Boult drops 'easiest catch ever' against Sri Lanka

Trent Boult reacts after dropping the catch, as Tom Latham looks on. Photo / Getty

Trent Boult had a superb start to his day in the Black Caps' second test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

New Zealand's star seamer took a double-wicket maiden in just his third over of the day, removing Angelo Mathews and Kusal Perera to put the Black Caps on top, and bringing up 250 test wickets - just the third New Zealander to reach that milestone.

However, his morning in Sri Lanka soon took a turn for the worse, after dropping one of the easiest catches in cricket history.

With Dhananjaya de Silva on nine, the Sri Lankan all-rounder was given the ultimate let-off.

A leading edge went straight up into the air, with Boult waving away his fielders to take what looked to be the simplest of return catches. Somehow, the ball spilled out, leaving everyone in shock — most of all, Boult — and de Silva allowed an incredibly fortuitous second chance.

Trent Boult reacts after dropping the catch, as Tom Latham looks on. Photo / Getty

Boult is known for taking spectacular grabs, but has also compiled a few lowlights in the field over the last summer, having dropped several catches, and stepping on the boundary rope in the pivotal final stages of the thrilling World Cup final.

However, none of those dropped chances will be as stunning as the sitter he put down in Colombo.

Trent Boult, taker of some of the most insane, athletic catches of all time, has dropped maybe the easiest one I’ve ever seen dropped live.

How do you even drop that?#SLvNZ

— Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) August 23, 2019

Boult drops the easiest catch ever

— Akki (@CrickPotato) August 23, 2019

How can you drop that sitter, Boult??? He is usually a very good fielder. I can't believe it. Maybe the ball has got wet? One can't explain it #SLvNZ

— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) August 23, 2019

Trent Boult dropped a catch that I could have taken one-handed in my sleep. And that is saying something!#SLvNZ

— annanya (@annanyajohari) August 23, 2019

De Silva made the most of his incredibly fortuitous second chance to reach lunch unbeaten on 32, with Sri Lanka at 144-6.