Adelaide Strikers captain Brad Hodge is well aware that catches win matches, in all forms of cricket.
A veteran of the game at 40, Hodge was quick to identify his side's fielding as an area in need of work after the Strikers' 19-run win over the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League.
The Strikers dropped several easy chances in the early stages of Friday night's game at the Adelaide Oval, allowing the Stars to build a solid opening partnership.
Those mistakes could have proven much more costly if not for some clutch bowling by spearheads Kane Richardson and Ben Laughlin, who combined for five wickets.
"We didn't start the game off well in the field," Hodge said.
"You have to have that intensity. I thought we were a fraction lacking.
"To be honest, it was bit like my under-12 side in the morning at East Sandringham.
"A few go down, and you have to back your fielders. We have done the training. You just need to keep calm and get the next one."
Hodge (56 off 41) led the Strikers in style, posting his ninth BBL half-century to steady the innings after openers Craig Simmons (13) and Tim Ludeman (18) fell cheaply.
He combined with young gun Alex Ross (65 off 30) for 115 runs, the biggest fifth-wicket partnership in BBL history, as the Strikers reached 5-187.
The Stars, who won the toss and elected to bowl on a hot Adelaide night, fell apart towards the end of their innings to post 7-158.
The Strikers were able to contain high-profile batsmen Kevin Pietersen and Glenn Maxwell, each caught in the deep after making promising starts.
English spinner Adil Rashid (2-27) impressed on debut, while key signing Mahela Jayawardene redeemed himself in the field after an underwhelming performance with the bat.
The win over the highly-fancied Stars showed that while the Strikers may lack the starpower of some rivals, they're well-placed to build on last year's semi-final showing.
With the Strikers preparing to take on the reigning champion Perth Scorchers, Ross said his teammates would relish the challenge.
"They've been the benchmark for the last three years," he said.
"We'll have to be on the top of our game to beat them. But most of our batsmen love Perth. They love batting on pacy wickets, so that'll be really good."
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