The T20 format has been a graveyard for the bowlers usually, but certain players have stood out from the rest and have produced brilliant performances which are massive. The format requires different levels of bowling and the usual line and length bowling might not work here with the batsman waiting to pounce.
The 360-degree batters have been the biggest game-changers in T20 formats and the bowlers who can contain them are going to be successful for a long time.
With the T20 World cup set to take place, here are the 5 bowlers with the best bowling figures in T20 internationals.
5. Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka) – 5 wickets for 3 runs
New Zealand faced Sri Lanka in a group match of the ICC World T20 tournament in Chattogram on 31 March 2014. Batting first, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 199 in 19.2 overs. In reply, New Zealand were skittled out for 60 in 15.3 overs. Sri Lanka’s slow left-arm orthodox bowler, Rangana Herath, took 5 wickets for 3 runs in 3.3 overs, responsible for the scalps of McCullum, Taylor, Neesham, Ronchi and Boult.
Also Read | List of T20 internationals Hat Tricks
4. Yuzvendra Chahal (India) – 6 wickets for 25 runs
India and England met in Bengaluru in the 3rd match of a series on 1 February 2017. Batting first, India scored 202/6. In reply, England were bowled out for 127 in 16.3 overs. India’s leg break googly bowler Yuzvendra Chahal took 6 wickets for 25 runs in 4 overs and brought about England’s batting collapse after they were placed comfortably at 119/2 in the 14th over. Chahal’s victims included Billings, Root, Morgan, Stokes, Moeen Ali and Chris Jordan.
Also check out Top 5 best bowling figures in T20 world cup history
3. Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka) – 6 wickets for 16 runs
Sri Lanka played against Australia in the 2nd match of a series in Kandy on 8 August 2011. Sri Lanka batted first and scored 157/9. Replying, Australia were restricted to 149/9 thanks mainly to Sri Lanka off-spinner Ajantha Mendis’s figures of 6 wickets for 16 runs in 4 overs. Mendis’s victims included Watson, Warner, Shaun Marsh, Smith, Haddin and Johnson. In the process, Mendis broke the previous record set by Umar Gul in 2009.
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2. Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka) – 6 wickets for 8 runs
In a group match of the ICC World T20 tournament in Hambantota on 18 September 2012, Sri Lanka faced Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka batted first and scored 182/4. In reply, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 100 in 17.3 overs. Sri Lanka’s right arm off-spin bowler Ajantha Mendis took 6 wickets for 8 runs in 4 overs, including the scalps of Sibanda, Taylor, Mazakadza, Chigumbura, Utseya and Jarvis. In the process, Mendis broke his own world record that he had set in August 2011.
1. Deepak Chahar (India) – 6 wickets for 7 runs
In the 3rd match of a series on Bangladesh’s tour of India in Nagpur on 10 November 2019, the hosts batted first and scored 174/5. When Bangladesh replied, they were bowled out for 144 in 19.2 overs after being comfortably placed at one stage on 110 for 2 in 13 overs. India’s seamer Deepak Chahar caused Bangladesh’s collapse by taking 6 wickets for 7 runs in 3.2 overs. His victims included opener Liton Das and top-order batsmen Soumya Sarkar and Mohammad Mithun. Chahar’s last three wickets were Aminul Islam, Shafiul Islam and Mustafizur Rahman. Chahar’s bowling figures, which helped set a world record, earned him the Man of the Match award.
