We have often heard commentators saying catches win matches. This is universal. Almost every cricketing expert or a fan has experienced where a catch has changed the whole course of the match.
Every time a catch is dropped the fans shake their heads and say these three words. Former Indian women’s team coach W V Raman pointed out that too many dropped catches cost them the World Cup. So that’s not the first time, infact it is now a fact that ‘Catches win Matches’.
Here’s our collection of terrific ‘Catches’ of the cricketing history
Ben Stokes vs South Africa
2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup
Ben Stokes has been phenomenal fielder for the England team. Ben Stokes’s catch on the boundary line during the game against South Africa at Kingston oval in the 2019 ICC men’s World Cup is one of the best catches ever seen.
England team put on the mammoth total of 311 in their allotted 50 overs. At the end of the 34th over of the innings, South African team was reduced to 180 for the loss of 6 wickets.
Andile Phehlukwayo played a slog sweep against Adil Rashid . Ben Stokes took a flying one handed catch and landed smoothly on the field.
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Yuvraj Singh against South Africa
2002 Champion’s Trophy semi final
In the semi final game of the 2002 Champions Trophy ,Yuvraj Singh took a splendid catch to dismiss the South African captain, Graeme Smith.
The South African captain Graeme Smith was struggling against Zaheer Khan. Then he tried to loft the ball in the third over of Zaheer Khan but handed over phenomenal catch to India’s one of the best fielders. Yuvraj Singh was new to the International Circuit and was very fit amongst the Indian team.
The semi final game was a hard-fought victory for the Indian team. Indian team pulled the impossible match against the inform and dangerous South African team.
Yuvraj Singh vs Bangladesh
2004, Chittagong, First ODI
In this match against Bangladesh ,India won the game by a very small margin of 11 runs. In this match legendary captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni made his International debut. Unfortunately he did not open his account and was out for a duck.
In this match, Yuvraj Singh dismissed Mohammed Rafiq by taking a splendid catch at point. Mohammad Rafiq hit a six against Irfan Pathan in the same over but Irfan Pathan made a comeback and dismissed him. Yuvraj Singh brilliantly timed his jump to the left side and took a brilliant catch.
Mohammed Kaif vs Pakistan
2004, First ODI, Karachi
Mohammad Kaif pulled off a blinder in the first ODI against Pakistan. Because of this brilliant catch India pulled off one of the high score match on the tour of Pakistan.
Pakistan were just required 10 off 8 deliveries, Zaheer khan targeted Malik’s pad but he lofted the ball towards mid off. Mohammed Kaif was on the long off fence and sprinted. He eventually grabbed the Mehang Badani’s catch.
Mohammed Kaif suffered an injury but pulled off the match for India. India beat Pakistan by 5 runs.
Trent Boult vs West Indies
2014
Trent Boult has been a valuable asset for New Zealand team not with the ball but on the field as well. The team has believed in him everytime. The kiwi pacer dismissed Pollard by a splendid catch at mid wicket.
West Indies were 126 for 3 at the end 18th over. In order to accelerate the scoring rate , Pollard decided to play a fancy stoke on the short of Corey Anderson towards mid wicket.
The ball was sailing over the ropes but Trent Boult pluck the ball from the air. Dramatically, it ended as a match winning catch.
Suresh Raina vs Pakistan
Asia cup , 2012
India is blessed to have so many great fielders. But the fielding standards were set by Mohammad Kaif and Robin Singh. Suresh Raina also belonged to this group. In the group stage of the Asia Cup 2012, Suresh Raina grabbed one of the best catches of his career. He took splendid catch to dismiss Younis Khan on 52.
At this point Pakistan were 322 . In the death overs Praveen Kumar bowled a brilliant delivery and was helped by Suresh Raina on the field to dismiss Younis Khan. This catch helped India to deaccelerate the Pakistani innings at the end.
Corey Anderson against Australia
2016, Test Match
In 2016, a match against Australia, Corey Anderson bowled a juicy half volley to Nathan Lyon . Lyon drive the ball few inches above the ground towards him.
He took a one handed blinder to dismiss Nathan Lyon and rolled like a somersault. This was one of the best caught and bowl ever seen.
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kumar Sangakara vs England
2014
Kumar Sangakara is regarded as one of the finest wicket keepers in the cricket history. In the match against England he almost predicted the shot before it was played by Ravi Bopara.
Kumar Sangakara showed his keeping brilliance by taking a a last moment improvised catch. Ravi Bopara try to play paddle sweep against Rangana Herath but Sangakara predicted and was ready at the second slip.
Sheldon Cottrell against Australia
2019 , ICC men’s cricket world cup
Steve Smith tried to click over the square leg fielder off Thomas. But Sheldon Cottrell sprinted and reached out his left hand to grab a running catch.
The momentum took him over the ropes but he threw the ball up in the air before touching the rope. And completed a comfortable catch. It was mind blowing effort from the big man.
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Andy Bichel vs New Zealand
2005
In the year 2005, the New Zealand team were playing against FICA world XI. Kiwis went on to a flier with all guns blazing, but the crucial point of the match came after Mills was caught by Andy Bichel.
Andy Bichel jumped and took the catch, just an inch behind the boundary rope, but lost his balance and crossed the ropes. He threw the air in the air behind the boundary lines and immediately regained the balance, completing the catch to send Mills back to the pavilion.
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