5 instances when a fielder won a match single-handedly

Cricket is a team sport and every individual has a role to play in the side. The different skillsets of various individual players combine together to form a team. Bowling, batting and fielding are the three most important aspects of the game.While batsmen and bowlers get all the applauds for their efforts, fielders often remain the unsung heroes. There have been a lot of instances when a bowler has changed the course of the match all by his own, but to do that, he has often needed the support from his fielders.Different kinds of fielders in a team mix together to form fielding attack for their bowlers. So, if you have a brilliant bunch of players in the field, then even the half chances can be converted into wickets, and that is what can change the momentum of the game. The athleticism, the sheer desire to contribute to the side, and special talent made some of the cricketers match winners for their fielding abilities, especially in the ODI format.Here are five instances when a fielder won a match single-handedly for his team:

#1 Gus Logie vs Pakistan, 1986

Gus Logie attempts a tough catch at forward short-leg

The 2nd match of the 1986 Champions Trophy was between the mighty West Indies and Pakistan. West Indies won the match by nine wickets, but it was not because of their furious fast-bowlers, but because of their “flying Caribbean” Gus Logie. It was the first time in cricket history that a fielder was adjudged as the Man of Match.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. It was Logie’s day at Sharjah Cricket Association Stadium that day as he ended his day in the field with three superb catches and two brilliant run-outs. Both the Pakistani openers were caught by Logie before he pulled off a stunner at square-leg to dismiss Ijaz Ahmed.

But the “dismissal of the day” came when Logie directly hit the stumps from squre-leg to get rid of Javed Miandad. Logie also ran-out Asif Mujtaba that day and without batting or bowling in that match, he was awarded the MoM award for his heroics in the field.

#2 Viv Richards vs India, 1989-90

Viv Richards celebrating with teammates after taking a catch.

It was the 2nd semi-final of the 1989/90 MRF World Series between West Indies and India. West Indies won the match by eight wickets and Vivian Richards was chosen as the MoM. But it was not his flamboyance with the bat, but his fielding commitments that earned him the award that day.

After winning the toss, India opted to bat first and were bowled out for only 165 runs in 48.5 overs. Every Caribbean except Richards were able to pick a wicket and he did not even went to bat, yet he was chosen as the best player of the match.

The “Calypso King” pulled off three excellent catches and saved several crucial runs as his side restricted India to a modest total in the important encounter. Raman Lamba, Dilip Vengsarkar and Manoj Prabhakar gave away their wickets to Richard’s brilliance in the field.

#3 Jonty Rhodes vs West Indies, 1993-94

Jonty Rhodes pulls off a flying catch.

The 4th match of the Hero Cup 1993-94 was between West Indies and South Africa at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai. This time around, it was West Indies who were the victims of a phenomenal called Jonty Rhodes. Rhodes is being remembered in cricket history as the greatest fielder of all time. It was him, who revolutionized fielding in the 1992 World Cup.

Batting first, the Proteas put up a fighting score of 180 in their scheduled 40 overs as Rhodes played a good knock of 40. In reply, the West Indian batting line-up crumbled in front of a ‘flying’ Jonty Rhodes as South Africa won the match by 41 runs. Rhodes pulled off five catches that day, a record that still stands as the highest number of catches taken by an outfielder in a single match.

First he took an outstanding diving catch to send Brain Lara to the dressing room. This was followed by a stunner to get rid of Phil Simmons, flying across his wrong side Rhodes took the catch with his left hand in mid-air. He took another brilliant catch of opener Desmond Haynes. He took further two catches to set a world record which still stands tall.

#4 Mark Taylor vs West Indies, 1992-93

Mark Taylor celebrates his classic catch against West Indies.

It was the 3rd match of the Benson & Hedges World Series 1992-93 between Australia and West Indies at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Australia won the toss and opted to bat first. In their scheduled 30 overs they scored 101/9. Despite the low score, Australia managed to win the match by a narrow margin of 14 runs. Australian opener Mark Taylor was chosen as the MoM but he only contributed nine runs with his bat.

It was his brilliance in the fielding department which earned him the award that day. Slip fielding requires a very different set of skills, as it always tests the reflexes of the fielder and the level of patience and concentration needs to be high all the time. Mark Taylor went on to grab everything that came his way that day as he took four brilliant slip catches to guide Australia to a thrilling win.

Gus Logie, Keith Arthurton, Carl Hooper and Junior Murry all went to the dressing room to Taylor’s alertness in the slip region. His four catches potentially changed the course of the game in the favour of the Aussies. Taylor is remembered as the adventurous Australian skipper, who is also a batting legend, but his slip-fielding was a very rare attribute that he used to possess.

#5 Mohammad Kaif vs Sri Lanka, 2003

Kaif takes a blinder against Sri Lanka.

The 46th match of 2003 ICC World Cup was Super Six clash between India and Sri Lanka at the New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. India won the match by a mammoth 183 runs after the Lankans were bowled out for 109 runs in 23 overs. It was a superb display by the Indian bowlers, but the real star for India in the field was Mohammad Kaif.

The legendary Indian fielder, who was labelled as the best fielder in the world at that time, pulled off four stunning catches as the Lankans crumbled while chasing a big target of 292. Both the Lankan openers were caught by Kaif at point with two brilliant efforts. He also took advantage of a half chance and send Prabath Nissanka to the pavilion and ended his match with the catch of Muttiah Muralitharan.

Unlike other cricketers in the list, Kaif was not awarded with the MoM trophy, but it was his athleticism which helped India to register their biggest win in the 2003 World Cup. This was an example of Kaif’s outstanding fielding ability which gave him a cult status.