Acrobatics on the boundary at the Champions League T20, 2014
Pushing the boundary
Hokey Pokey catches at the CLT20: he put his right leg in, he put his left leg out, he put his right hand in and turned his body all about…
#1 | Bend it like Brendon
CSK v Dolphins, Bangalore, Sep 22
Brendon McCullum leaps pole-vaulter-style at long-on to catch Robbie Frylinck. Realising he's going over, he twists to release the ball into play, breaks his fall, jumps up, and keeps it to two.
Context: With Dolphins needing 94 off 28, the game is already over.
Difficulty level: Insane
Execution: 9.5 ------ Impact: 5•BCCI
#1 | Bend it like Brendon
CSK v Dolphins, Bangalore, Sep 22
Brendon McCullum leaps pole-vaulter-style at long-on to catch Robbie Frylinck. Realising he's going over, he twists to release the ball into play, breaks his fall, jumps up, and keeps it to two.
Context: With Dolphins needing 94 off 28, the game is already over.
Difficulty level: Insane
Execution: 9.5 ------ Impact: 5•BCCI
#3 | The Southee-Mitchell show
Knights v Lions, Raipur, Sep 14
Tim Southee extends his arms over the midwicket boundary in an attempt to catch Asif Raza, realises his momentum is tipping him over the skirting, and tosses the ball to Daryl Mitchell who has run over from deep square leg.
Context: Lions are already tottering at 34 for 5 after nine overs, in a chase of 171, so the relay catch is but a final nail in their coffin.
Difficulty level: Hard
Execution: 9
Impact: 5•BCCI
Knights v Lions, Raipur, Sep 14
Tim Southee extends his arms over the midwicket boundary in an attempt to catch Asif Raza, realises his momentum is tipping him over the skirting, and tosses the ball to Daryl Mitchell who has run over from deep square leg.
Context: Lions are already tottering at 34 for 5 after nine overs, in a chase of 171, so the relay catch is but a final nail in their coffin.
Difficulty level: Hard
Execution: 9
Impact: 5•BCCI
#6 | Six and out
KKR v Hurricanes, semi-final, Hyderabad, Oct 2
Ben Hilfenhaus finds a Jacques Kallis flick coming his way at deep backwards square leg. He leaps, flings his arms over his head and tries to hold on while still air-bound, but the ball bursts through his fingers and goes over.
Context: A catch Hilfenhaus simply must take, with Knight Riders needing six from six to make the final. It turns out to be the shot that seals KKR's win.
Difficulty level: Medium
Execution: 5
Impact: 3•BCCI
KKR v Hurricanes, semi-final, Hyderabad, Oct 2
Ben Hilfenhaus finds a Jacques Kallis flick coming his way at deep backwards square leg. He leaps, flings his arms over his head and tries to hold on while still air-bound, but the ball bursts through his fingers and goes over.
Context: A catch Hilfenhaus simply must take, with Knight Riders needing six from six to make the final. It turns out to be the shot that seals KKR's win.
Difficulty level: Medium
Execution: 5
Impact: 3•BCCI
#2 | Twice as nice
KXIP v Knights, Mohali, Sep 26
Positioned at long-off, Anton Devcich jumps and stretches his arms over his head to catch George Bailey. Inches from the rope and realising he is set to go over, he coolly tosses the ball up, lands beyond the boundary, pops back in and completes the catch.
Context: Batting first, Kings XI are motoring along at 188 for 4 at the start of the 19th, so Knights are in damage-control mode.
Difficulty level: Hard
Execution: 8
Impact: 7•BCCI
KXIP v Knights, Mohali, Sep 26
Positioned at long-off, Anton Devcich jumps and stretches his arms over his head to catch George Bailey. Inches from the rope and realising he is set to go over, he coolly tosses the ball up, lands beyond the boundary, pops back in and completes the catch.
Context: Batting first, Kings XI are motoring along at 188 for 4 at the start of the 19th, so Knights are in damage-control mode.
Difficulty level: Hard
Execution: 8
Impact: 7•BCCI
#4 | Take two
Tridents v Knights, Bangalore, Sep 30
Anton Devcich and Daryl Mitchell are at it again. At deep mid-wicket, Devcich catches Jonathan Carter inches inside the rope, his foot braced to keep him from going over. Still precariously placed, though, he turns and lobs the ball to the approaching Mitchell.
Context: Chasing 138, Tridents are comfortable at 105 for 3 in 15.1 - vital, then, for Knights to latch on to every half-chance.
Difficulty level: Hard
Execution: 9
Impact: 5•BCCI
Tridents v Knights, Bangalore, Sep 30
Anton Devcich and Daryl Mitchell are at it again. At deep mid-wicket, Devcich catches Jonathan Carter inches inside the rope, his foot braced to keep him from going over. Still precariously placed, though, he turns and lobs the ball to the approaching Mitchell.
Context: Chasing 138, Tridents are comfortable at 105 for 3 in 15.1 - vital, then, for Knights to latch on to every half-chance.
Difficulty level: Hard
Execution: 9
Impact: 5•BCCI
#5 | Vaughn giant leap
Dolphins v Scorchers, Mohali, Sep 20
Vaughn van Jaarsveld, at deep midwicket, leaps to grab on to a slog from Craig Simmons. He catches it with his right hand, but realises his foot is landing beyond the rope, so throws the ball back into play. However, replays confirm he has not released it in time.
Context: On 41 off 33, opener Simmons was laying the platform for Scorchers' chase of 165, so it was important for van Jaarsveld to take the catch.
Difficulty level: Very hard
Execution: 6.5
Impact: 3.5•BCCI
Dolphins v Scorchers, Mohali, Sep 20
Vaughn van Jaarsveld, at deep midwicket, leaps to grab on to a slog from Craig Simmons. He catches it with his right hand, but realises his foot is landing beyond the rope, so throws the ball back into play. However, replays confirm he has not released it in time.
Context: On 41 off 33, opener Simmons was laying the platform for Scorchers' chase of 165, so it was important for van Jaarsveld to take the catch.
Difficulty level: Very hard
Execution: 6.5
Impact: 3.5•BCCI