WATCH: Manish Pandey's incredible fielding effort helps Hubli Tigers defend 11 off 4 to clinch Maharaja Trophy 2023 title

'Catches win Matches' - a phrase used in the game of cricket to emphasise how important it is to take catches as a drop can lead to a game loss. A true example of this was witnessed in the match between Hubli Tigers and Mysore Warriors at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Tuesday, August 29. An astonishing fielding effort by Tigers captain Manish Pandey in the dying moment not only clinched his team the game but also the 2023 Maharaja Trophy title.

Chasing a huge target of 204 in 20 overs, Warriors brought the match to an edge-of-the-seat thriller with 11 runs needed off 4 balls. With just two big hits needed to clinch the title, all-rounder Jagadeesa Suchit smashed Manvanth Kumar’s delivery to long-off. His well-timed shot seemed to cross the boundary rope easily for a maximum, but Pandey had other plans in mind.

Just before the ball landed outside the boundary line, the out-of-favour senior India cricketer made a timely leap, caught the ball with both hands and threw it back to the field. He saved crucial five runs in the process that made the entire crowd raise their eyebrows and open their mouths in shock. This brought Monish Reddy on strike, who ran for a bye on the fourth ball. With nine runs needed off the last two balls, Kumar got the wicket of Suchit and helped Tigers to register an incredible 8-run victory.

Watch the video of Manish Pandey's tournament-winning save 

One of the craziest saves in the Final....!!!

Flying Manish Pandey's incredible effort when the team needed 11 in 4 balls - what an athlete. pic.twitter.com/MdpMxR5Fnp

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 30, 2023

Happy to contribute as a captain and player: Manish Pandey

Pandey also made a valuable contribution with his bat to take the team past 200. The right-hander walked out to bat at No. 5 when the score was 121-3 after 13.3 overs. Mohammed Taha's 40-ball 72 gave the team a powerful start and Pandey's unbeaten 50 off 23 balls with three fours and four sixes ensured they did not lose momentum. The Karnataka cricketer ended the tournament with 282 runs at an average of 141 and a strike rate of 160.23.

"There's a lot of things in my head right now. Feels great to be standing here in front of the fans. As soon as the batsman hit it I thought "oh my word". Luckily I caught it and threw it back. Happy to contribute as a captain and player. Had the faith, as every captain does, that my team will win," Pandey said in the post-match presentation.