Silk, who is regarded by many, including former Australian captain Ricky Ponting as one of the best fielders in the country, has taken one of the greatest catches in Big Bash League history against cross-town rivals Sydney Thunder at the SCG on Thursday evening.

After his one-handed screamer at the Gabba to dismiss Craig Kieswetter last season, many pundits believed nothing could top that monumental effort.

But a running, diving, one-handed 'speccy' centimetres from the turf has been thrown into the mix as a short-priced favourite to trump his left-handed diving catch off Brett Lee's bowling last year.

Debutant Chris Green, who was surprisingly bumped up the order ahead of more esteemed batsmen Mike Hussey and Jake Doran, skied a ball towards a vacant mid wicket area with the score at 2/109 in the 15th over.

Silk sprinted in from the boundary in front of the members pavilion, dived with two hands, then resorted to one, and managed to snaffle a catch in his right hand before sliding to just outside the 30 metre circle.

Commentators argued the catch's degree of difficulty was higher than the 22-year-old's effort last season, which was unofficially dubbed the catch of the century.

 

"That's better than last year I'm telling you," said Mark Waugh while commentating. "That was an amazing catch."

Asked whether he thought the catch was trickier than last season's pearler, Silk said he wasn't entirely sure.

"It's hard to tell, I haven't really watched it," said Silk at the innings break. "The outfield ones running in are always tough catches.

"I knew it was going to be a tough one to try and get, I got there as quick as I could. I stuck out the right paw and it just went in there."

Silk's performance thereafter was just as impressive as he blasted an unbeaten 69, which included 43 runs off his last 13 deliveries that steered the Sixers to a thrilling last ball victory.

Sydney Sixers needed 56 runs off the last three over to prevent a maiden defeat to the men in lime green, but some lofty hitting from Silk and consecutive fours from Stephen O'Keefe from the last two balls of the match sent a NSW domestic record of crowd of 36,487 into a frenzy.