Five of the costliest drops in Champions Trophy 2017

A close look at the culprits and the crime

Thisara Perera: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan

In the 1999 World Cup semis, when Herschelle Gibbs dropped a sitter offered by Steve Waugh, the relieved Aussie reportedly quipped, “You just dropped the World Cup, son.” This wasn’t a World Cup game but every Lankan fan must have had a similar sinking feeling when all-rounder Thisara Perera dropped Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed’s catch in the knock-out game on Monday. Perera spilled a regulation chance at mid-on after old warhorse Lasith Malinga’s disguised slow delivery induced Sarfraz into a false stroke. The score was 193 for 7 and that catch, if taken, might have made the 236 target a bridge too far for Pakistan. But that was not to be. That Perera was totally out of luck was further confirmed when substitute Seekugge dropped another catch presented by the Pak captain the next over

Hardik Pandya: India vs Sri Lanka

Lean and athletic, the Baroda all-rounder is one of the fittest player in the Indian side. But Pandya couldn’t latch on to a Kusal Mendis mishit off his own bowling. On 24 then, the batsman went on to smash 89 and win the game for his country. He also earned the MoM award. Pandya also floored Hashim Amla’s catch in the next match but that was a less costly miss

Hasan Ali: Pakistan vs India:

When Yuvraj Singh came out to bat, India were under pressure to break free. The Punjab southpaw’s aerial strike off leggie Shadab Khan went awry and it seemed that Hasan Ali, rushing in from long-off will gratefully accept the gift. But Ali grassed the chance and became the butt of Twitter digs

Lasith Malinga: Sri Lanka vs South Africa

Nobody was surprised when the Lankan speedster with the unmistakable hairdo failed to latch on to a Faf du Plessis skier at the boundary. The South African batter was on 2 then and finished with 75. Fellow pacer Nuwan Pradeep was the luckless bowler.

Mathew Wade

: Australia vs England

Wade isn’t the greatest of wicket-keepers from Down Under. This was reaffirmed when he let-off England captain Eoin Morgan in a make-or-break game for his side. Defending a modest 273, Australia had England shaken with two early strikes. At this stage, Morgan nicked Hazlewood. Wade dived but failed to hold on. In the next over, Australia dismissed the in-form Joe Root. But the Morgan miss proved to be decisive. The England captain (87) collaborated with Stokes (102 not out) and rain to pull off a comprehensive victory.