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Sheldon Cottrell took a one-handed screamer in the deep to remove Steve Smith for 73 in Australia's World Cup clash with the West Indies.

Steve Smith has fallen victim to arguably the catch of the World Cup, after West Indies quick Sheldon Cottrell pulled off a one-handed screamer in the deep.

After Smith rescued Australia from an embarrassing top-order collapse, he looked set to threaten for three figures in just his second official game back in the side.

But that was before Cottrell worked his magic with the former Australian skipper on 73.

Looking to up the ante with six overs to go, Smith flicked quick Oshane Thomas towards backward square leg.

Cottrell sprinted around, sticking out his left arm and plucking the ball out of the air as it went over the boundary.

He then had to release the ball as he ran over the rope, before returning to the field and reclaiming the Kookaburra.

It comes after Cottrell had earlier missed a chance to take Smith's wicket in the deep, as he slipped over trying to take a ball that bounced around his feet.

His successful catch likely overtakes Ben Stokes' over the head effort from England's win over Pakistan in the tournament opener.

South African wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock also took a pearler to remove Virat Kohli in the Proteas' loss to India on Wednesday, diving one-handed in front of the slips to remove the world's best batsman.