In modern day cricket where batsmen dominate the bowlers, an associate nation bowler Rashid Khan registered the fourth best figures in ODI cricket to help Afghanistan register a 63 runs win over West Indies at ST Lucia. A bowler needs to have skills, ability to deceive the batsmen with variations is the key to success in ODI cricket.
Here we look at the top 5 best bowling figures in ODI cricket till date:
- Chaminda Vaas (8/19)
The left handed bowler from Sri Lanka who swung the ball has the best ODI figures till date. He took 8/19 against Zimbabwe in Colombo. This match was played on 8th December 2001. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field that day. Vaas looked in dangerous mood swinging the ball both ways. The first ball of the match he dismissed D Ebrahim, Grant Flower, Andy Flower in during first five overs.
He took a hat-trick during that match taking wickets of Stuart Carlisle, Wishart and Tatenda Taibu. It broke the backbone of Zimbabwe batting line up and then picked 2 more wickets. Sri Lanka bowled out Zimbabwe for just 38 in 15.4 overs. The rest of 2 wickets were taken by Muralitharan. The Sri Lankan team chased the target with ease in 4.2 overs winning the match by 9 wickets. Vaas took 8/19 in 8 overs with 3 maidens at an economy of 2.37 runs per over.
- Shahid Afridi ( 7/12)
Shahid Afridi one of the good all-rounders for Pakistan registers the second best figures in ODI cricket. He took 7/12 against West Indies in Providence Stadium, Guyana. The match took place on 14th July 2013.
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat. They lost the first 5 wickets for just 47 runs. Shahid Afridi came to the crease and scored 76 runs in 55 balls along with Misbah-UL-Haq to help Pakistan post 224/9 in 50 overs. Chasing the target of 225, Shahid Afridi was bought into bowling in the 21st over. After that he troubled the West Indies batsmen and took 7 for 12 in 9 overs with 3 maidens at an economy of 1.3 runs per over . Pakistan won the match by a massive 126 runs margin.
- Glenn McGrath (7/15)
Glenn McCgarth considered one of the best bowlers has the third best figures in ODI cricket. He took 7/15 against minnows Namibia during the 2003 World Cup held in South Africa and Kenya. This match was held at Potchefstroom on 27th February 2003.
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. Contributions from Matthew Hayden, Andrew Symonds, Daimen Martyn, Darren Lehman quick fire 50 in 31 balls, Brad Hogg 19 in 14 balls not out helped the World Champions to post a competitive 301 for 6 in 50 overs. Glenn McCgarth bowled with great accuracy and never allowed Namibia to score easily. He took 7/15 in 7 overs with 4 maidens at an economy of 2.14 runs per over. Australia won that match by a massive 256 runs and virtually became the champions of 2003 edition beating India in the finals.
- Rashid Khan ( 7/18)
Rashid Khan produced a magical spell by an associate bowler in ODI cricket and the fourth best figures. He took 7/18 against West Indies during the first One day international match at ST Lucia on 9th June.
Winning the toss Afghanistan elected to bat. Opener Javed Ahmedi scored 81. Shenwari 22, Nabi 27 not out and Naib quick fire 41 in 28 balls helped Afghanistan post 212 for 6 in 50 overs. Chasing the target of 213, Rashid Khan was bought into the bowling crease during 23rd over. He took 2 wickets in the first over and then surprised West Indies batsmen with his variety taking 7/18 in 8.4 overs with an economy of 2.07 runs per over. Afghanistan won the match by 63 runs.
- Andy Bichel (7/20)
Andy Bichel the fast bowler from Australia has the fifth best figures in ODI cricket. He took 7/20 against England during the 2003 World Cup. This match took place at Port Elizaberth on 2nd March 2003. Andy Bichel was at his best with good tight bowling taking important wickets of Nick Knight, Michael Vaughuan, Nasser Hussain, Alex Stewart, Andrew Flintoff and Ashley Giles that restricted England to 204 for 8 in 50 overs. Bichel took 7/20 in 10 overs with an economy of 2 runs per over.
Chasing the target of 205, Australia was struggling at 135 for 8 in the 38th over. Andy Bichel and Bevan stitched a record partnership of unbeaten 73. Australia won the match by 2 wickets with 2 balls to spare.