Fabian Allen's 5 most jaw-dropping catches ft. CPL 2024
With yet another sensational fielding effort in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024, Fabian Allen has earned praise from the cricket fraternity and fans. Playing for Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, Allen plucked a stunning catch to dismiss Trinbago Knight Riders' Nicholas Pooran on Thursday, September 5.
Interestingly, the bowling all-rounder was named the Player of the Match for his figures of 3/23 and quick-fire 11-ball 25*. His contribution helped the Falcons win a thriller by six runs and finally open their account in CPL 2024.
Over the years, Allen has been a standout fielder with spectacular catching skills. He has displayed those skills in international and franchise cricket. Let's take a look at his five best catches through his seven-year T20 career.
#1 CPL 2017
The 2017 edition of the Caribbean Premier League saw Fabian Allen take arguably his finest catch. His effort played a key role in helping the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots win the game by four runs against Guyana Amazon Warriors in Lauderhill.
Chasing 133, Warriors were well on course with 31 required off 24 and seven wickets remaining. However, Jason Mohammed (41), who was the team's top-scorer, flashed a blade at Hasan Ali's widish delivery.
Coming in as a substitute fielder, Allen ran towards deep point and took a stunning one-handed flying catch near the fence to dismiss Mohammed. Thereafter, the bowling unit did their job well to win the game for the side.
#2 West Indies vs Australia, 2021
On July 16, 2021, West Indies met Australia in the fifth and final T20I of the bilateral series in St Lucia. Batting first, West Indies posted 199 on the board, with Evin Lewis (79) as the top-scorer.
In response, Australia were off to a quick start, with Mitchell Marsh scoring 30 off 15. Aaron Finch (34) and Moises Henriques (21) had already stitched a 49-run stand off 30 balls for the third wicket. Finch then tried to hit a big one towards mid-on off Hayden Walsh's full-toss.
Fabian Allen came charging 30 yards from the wide long on region and took a one-handed catch while sliding through the turf. The wicket of the Australian captain eventually resulted in Australia falling short by 16 runs and losing the series 4-1.
#3 CPL 2024
For his latest superhuman catch, Fabian Allen reacted rapidly off his own bowling and helped his team secure the win. Batting first, Antigua and Barbuda Falcons compiled a formidable total of 176, with Imad Wasim (46) as the top contributor.
During the chase, Trinbago Knight Riders had high hopes from Nicholas Pooran after the departure of Sunil Narine. Pooran received a delivery in the slot from Allen first up and hit a firm and flat shot towards long-on. Using his quick reflexes, the 29-year-old stretched his right hand in an attempt to grab the ball.
Allen recovered quickly to get into a fine position to take a terrific catch off the rebound.
In the end, Allen finished with three scalps, as the Falcons managed to eke out a six-run win over the Knight Riders.
#4 CPL 2023
Fabian Allen produced another sensational effort in CPL 2023 while representing the Jamaica Tallawahs against Trinbago Knight Riders in Tarouba. The Tallawahs put up a modest total of 154, with Imad Wasim's 62.
Then, Martin Guptill and Nicholas Pooran scored fifties to keep the Knight Riders on the front-foot. However, Allen pulled off a one-handed blinder to get rid of Kieron Pollard. In the 15th over, Wasim bowled a half-tracker and Pollard smashed it towards the deep mid-wicket region.
As the ball went flat, Allen lunged forward and took out his right hand to take a clean catch.
This time around, Allen's catch could not make much difference, as the opposition sealed the chase in under 18 overs.
#5 LPL 2024
The 2024 edition of the Lanka Premier League saw Fabian Allen representing the Jaffna Kings. In the 13th fixture of the tournament, they clashed against Colombo Strikers, who were off to a great start with 140+ runs in 14 overs.
Azmatullah Omarzai dismissed Glenn Phillips (58) to bring back the team's confidence in the 15th over. In the same over, he bowled a short delivery to Sadeera Samarawickrama, who could only connect with the toe-end of the bat.
The ball went straight up but was inside the circle and Allen, who was positioned at deep mid-wicket, had to cover around 40m to complete the catch. He slid across the turf and plucked a terrific catch to get rid of Samarawickrama.
In the end, Kings chased down the 189-run target successfully with nine balls to spare.