Caught sailor in hired vehicle (3)
I believe the answer is:
cab
'hired vehicle' is the definition.
'caught sailor' is the wordplay.
'caught' becomes 'c' (cricket abbreviation).
'sailor' becomes 'ab' (abbreviation for able seaman).
'c'+'ab'='CAB'
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for cab that I've seen before include "Taxi to hold an engine-driver" , "vehicle" , "A taxi in New York" , "Driver's compartment, in lorry say" , "Hired car" .)