Stats: Imran Tahir completes 150 wickets in ODI cricket

Imran Tahir has turned out to a crucial face in South Africa’s limited-overs set up. The leg-spinner holds the key for his team in the middle overs. As the importance of wrist-spinners has been on the rise in the ODI, the experience of the Tahir puts his team on the top irrespective of the situation and conditions. In the first game of the three-match ODI series against Australia in Perth, the Saffers’ pacer bowlers ran through the home team’s batting to reduce them to 66/6.

On a pitch that was assisting the pacers, Tahir was introduced in the 22nd over. He dismissed the dangerous Alex Carey who was the only player from Australia’s top eight to cross 20. Carey was caught behind trying scoop one off Tahir when on 33. This wicket was the 150th success in Imran Tahir’s ODI career. He extended his tally to 151 when he trapped Mitchell Starc, who ended up wasting a DRS referral as well.

With the wicket of Carey, Tahir became only the 8th player from South Africa to bag 150 ODI wickets. He is the only spin bowler among those eight players who accomplished this feat while playing for the Saffers. A total of 72 players have claimed 150 wickets in ODI cricket but only three took fewer matches to accomplish the milestone. The Perth ODI was Tahir’s 89th ODI which makes him the joint 4th fastest and the quickest South African to take 150 ODI wickets.

Allan Donald and Morne Morkel also took 89 ODI matches for 150 wickets. The world record is held by Pakistan’s Saqlain Mushtaq who did that in 78 matches while Australia’s Brett Lee became the quickest pacer to 150 ODI wickets having got there in 82 games. Among leg-spinners, Tahir is the quickest to the milestone breaking the record held by Australia’s Shane Warne in 94 matches. Seven out of the top ten quickest players to 150 ODI wickets are either from Pakistan or South Africa.

Fastest bowlers to 150 wickets in ODI cricket:

(Stats as on November 4, 2018)

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