Top 5 best bowling figures in T20 World Cup

The 2022 T20 World Cup is slated to start in a few months and all teams have started to finalize their squads for the all-important tournament. Apart from the batting department, teams will also be opting for a strong bowling line-up as they will play a crucial role in their team’s success in the tournament.

Over the years, several bowlers have bowled some memorable spells in the T20 World Cup and ensured that their team comes to the top. Fans are expected to see more of that in the upcoming tournament. But before that, let us take a look at the top five best bowling figures in T20 World Cup.

5. 5/19 – Adam Zampa vs Bangladesh, 2021

Australian spinner Adam Zampa was simply amazing against Bangladesh as he tormented their batting line-up during a group stage match of the 2021 T20 World Cup. None of the batters from Bangladesh managed to do well against a spirited bowling performance from Zampa.

Australia after winning the toss decided to have a bowl first. Pacers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood uprooted Bangladesh’s top order and Zampa cleaned up the opponent’s middle and lower order. He took wickets of Afif Hossain, Shamim Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, and Shoriful Islam.

As a result, Bangladesh could only manage to cross the 70-run mark in their allotted 20 overs with Australia comfortably winning the match by eight wickets. Skipper Aaron Finch stroked an excellent 40 runs for the team, but Zampa was awarded the Player of the Match.

4. 5/19 – Ahsan Malik vs South Africa, 2014

Netherlands was taking on South Africa during a group stage match of the 2014 T20 World Cup. The Men in Orange won the toss and opted to have the bowl first. South Africa had a shaky start as they lost Quinton de Kock very early. Skipper Faf du Plessis along with Hashim Amla stitched a vital partnership for their team.

However, pacer Ahsan Malik was simply excellent with the ball as he took apart the South Africa batting line-up. Malik took the wickets of Amla, Albie Morkel, David Miller, Dale Steyn and Beuran Hendricks. The right-arm pacer scaled five wickets and gave away just 19 runs in four-over quota.

Despite his efforts with the ball, his team lost the contest by just six runs. South Africa made 145 runs in their allotted 20 overs, but the Men in Orange could only manage to score 139 runs.

3. 5/6 – Umar Gul vs New Zealand, 2009

Pakistan pacer Umar Gul was at his extreme best in a group stage match against New Zealand during the 2009 T20 World Cup and single-handedly won the game for the Men in Green. New Zealand won the toss and opted to have a bat first.

Gul at first got the wicket of Scott Styris and then demolished the Kiwi batting middle-order. To note, Gul was the last bowler to be introduced in the bowling but he still grabbed a five-wicket haul after bowling just three overs and giving away six runs.

The Men in Green restricted New Zealand for just 99 runs and chased down the total easily within 13.1 overs. Gul was adjudged the Player of the Mmatch for his excellent bowling performance as Pakistan advanced in the competition. The Men in Green were also crowned T20 champions after winning the competition.

2. 5/3 – Rangana Herath vs New Zealand, 2014

Team Sri Lanka was taking on New Zealand in a must-win clash during the 2014 T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka batted first and could only score 119 runs in their allotted 20 overs. The Blackcaps looked very confident about chasing the total after the end of the first innings.

However, a spirited Sri Lanka entered the ground and an excellent performance from them ensured that New Zealand could only manage to score 60 runs in their innings. The left-arm spinner Rangana Herath completely demolished the New Zealand batting line-up and was also adjudged the Player of the Match.

Herath took the wickets of Brendon McCullum, James Neesham, Ross Taylor, Luke Ronchi, and Trent Boult. He only gave away three runs in his spell and guided his team towards the victory line.

1. 6/8 – Ajantha Mendis vs Zimbabwe, 2012

Sri Lanka spinner Ajantha Mendis was simply amazing against Zimbabwe during the 2012 T20 World Cup. Batting first, Sri Lanka scored 182 runs, with contributions coming from Tillakaratne Dilshan’s 39 off 28 balls, Kumar Sangakkara’s 44 off 26 balls, and Jeevan Mendis’ score of 43 off 30 balls.

In reply, Zimbabwe batters had no answers to Mendis spin magic as he ended up with figures six for eight in his four-over quota. Mendis outfoxed Zimbabwe’s batting order as Sri Lanka brushed aside the meek-looking Zimbabwe batting line-up.

Mendis finished the tournament with a total of 15 wickets, as Sri Lanka made it to the final. However, they lost to West Indies in the final match of the tournament as the Men in Maroon won their first ever T20 World Cup.