Top 10: Best Bowling Figures in T20 World Cup History

In T20 World Cup history, many times bowlers showed their dominance and their class with the ball. Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis (6/8) holds the record for best bowling figures in T20 World Cup history

In this article, we will talk about the top 10 best bowling figures in T20 World Cup history.

10. Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh): 5/22 vs New Zealand (2016)

Mustafizur Rahaman picked 5 wickets for 22 runs against New Zealand at the Eden Gardens in 2016. New Zealand, batting first, posted a total of 145/8 with contributions from Kane Williamson (42 runs) and Colin Munro (35 runs).

For Bangladesh, Mustafizur picked up 5 wickets, and Al-Amin Hossain contributed with 2 wickets. Mustafizur Rahaman’s 5 for 22 are the best bowling figures by a Bangladeshi bowler in T20 World Cup history.

9. Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afghanistan): 5/20 vs Scotland (2021)

Mujeeb Ur Rahaman picked up a five-wicket haul for Afghanistan while they were facing Scotland in the T20 World Cup 2021. Scotland were bowled out for 60 runs in a run chase of 191 runs, as Mujeeb picked up 5 for 20 runs and Rashid Khan took 4 wickets for 11 runs.

8. Adam Zampa (Australia): 5/19 vs Bangladesh (2021)

Bangladesh failed to understand the spin of Adam Zampa, as he picked up 5 for 19 against them in 2021 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Bangladesh batting first were bundled for 73 runs.

They were down to 33 for 4 in the first 6 overs when pacers Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc were breathing fire. Then came Zampa, and he took 5 wickets.

Australia chased down the target of 74 runs in just 6.2 overs. Captain Aaron Finch smashed 40 runs off 20 balls in the powerplay, and Mitchell Marsh’s cameo of 16 runs from 5 balls ensured the win for the Aussies.

7. Ahsan Malik (Netherlands): 5/19 vs South Africa (2014)

Ahsan Malik, playing for the Netherlands, picked up 5 for 19 against South Africa, who later won the match by just 6 runs in match 21 of the T20 World Cup 2014. South Africa, batting first, were restricted to 145/9 in their 20 overs. Ahsan Malik picked up 5 wickets, and for South Africa, Hashim Amla top-scored with his knock of 43 runs from 22 balls.

6. Akeal Hosein (West Indies): 5/11 vs Uganda (2024)

West Indies left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein (5/11) registered the sixth-best bowling figure in the history of the T20 World Cup against Uganda in the T20 World Cup 2024. The West Indies, batting first, posted 173/5 on the board, with Johnson Charles contributing 44 runs from 42 balls.

In reply, Uganda were bowled out for just 39 runs. Akeal picked up five wickets, Alzarri Joseph took 2 wickets, and no one from the Ugandan team was able to show some resistance against the Windies bowlers.

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5. Sam Curran (England): 5/10 vs West Indies (2022)

In the ICC T20 World Cup 2022, Sam Curran picked up 5 wickets for 10 runs against Afghanistan at the Perth Stadium. Afghanistan batting first were bowled out for 112 runs from 19.4 overs, with Curran picking up 5 wickets, Ben Stokes and Mark Wood picking 2 wickets each.

In response to the Afghanistan target, England took 18.1 overs to win the match, with Liam Livingstone scoring 29 runs from 21 balls.

4. Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan): 5/9 vs Uganda (2024)

Fazalhaq Farooqi registered the fourth-best bowling figure in the history of the T20 World Cup. Playing against Uganda, the left-arm pacer picked up 5 wickets for 9 runs.

Afghanistan batting first scored 183/5 runs on the board, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz scoring 76 runs from 45 balls and his opening partner Ibrahim Zadran scoring 70 runs from 46 balls.

In reply to the Afghanistan target, Uganda were bowled out for just 58 runs, with Farooqi picking up five wickets and Rashid Khan and Naveen Ul Haq picking up two wickets each.

3. Umar Gul (Pakistan): 5/6 vs New Zealand (2009)

Umar Gul picked up 5 wickets for just 6 runs against New Zealand in the 2009 T20 World Cup. New Zealand, batting first, were all out for 99 runs. Abdul Razzaq picked up two early wickets, and then Umar Gul dismissed 5 New Zealand batters by conceding just 6 runs.

2. Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka): 5/3 vs New Zealand (2014)

Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath picked up 5 wickets for 3 runs against New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2014. Sri Lanka, batting first, were bowled out for 119 runs from 19.2 overs, with Trent Boult and James Neesham picking up 3 wickets each.

New Zealand in the run chase were bundled for just 60 runs as Rangana Hearth picked up 5 wickets by giving away only 3 runs at an economy of 0.85.

1. Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka): 6/8 vs Zimbabwe (2012)

Ajantha Mendis bowled the best bowling figures in T20 World Cup history. He picked up 6 wickets for 8 runs against Zimbabwe in the 2012 T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka batted first and put up a total of 182/4 in 20 overs, with Kumar Sangakkara scoring 44 runs from 26 balls.

Zimbabwe in the run chase were wicketless for the first 5 overs, and Sri Lanka introduced Ajantha Mendis to the attack. He flew away with the Zimbabwe top order, dismissing 6 of their batters for 8 runs.

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