Sri Lanka are the second-most successful team in the history of the continental event. They have won as many as six Asia Cup titles (5 in ODIs and 1 in T20Is). Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) has a history of producing fielders of the highest quality in the history of the sport.
While the nation is renowned for producing batting and bowling talents, it has also produced tremendous fielders who played a quintessential role in the team’s success over the years. Fielding is one of the most crucial roles in the game of cricket. The fielders need to be alert and watchful all the time such that they can stop the flow of runs by making acrobatic dives.
Moreover, fielders can save boundaries and get rid of the extra runs, thus leading to maintaining a low run rate. There is a common phrase saying, “Catches win you Matches”. This emphasizes the importance of fielding and catching in the outcome of a game.
Now, let’s go through the names of three Sri Lankans who took the most catches in the Asia Cup (ODI).
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1. Mahela Jayawardene
Sri Lankan batting great Mahela Jayawardene was one of the pillars of the Sri Lankan cricket team. Besides his batting and captaincy credentials, he was also an excellent fielder. He tops the list as he has taken 15 catches in 28 appearances of the Asia Cup, which is the most by a player in the history of the tournament.
2. Aravinda de Silva
Aravinda de Silva’s contributions to the national cricket team are celebrated not just for his individual brilliance but also for his captaincy traits and the crucial role he played in taking Sri Lankan cricket to the next level. Aravinda de Silva comes next on the list as he has taken 12 catches in 24 appearances of the Asia Cup.
3. Muttiah Muralitharan
Muttiah Muralitharan is widely regarded as one of the greatest spin bowlers in the history of the sport. He is the leading wicket-taker in international cricket with 1347 wickets. The Sri Lankan spin wizard has also been one of the top fielders during his playing days. He took 10 catches in 24 appearances of the continental event.
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