The Twenty20 season has arrived and fans across the world are ready to soak in the festival of the ICC World T20 in India. As the T-20 World Cup about to start, we at the
TheCrickBlog take you all back in time and relive the top 10 amazing spells of ICC World T20 right from when it started back in 2007.
1. Ajantha Mendis: 6/8 (4 overs) against Zimabwe, 2012.
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| Image Courtesy: AFP |
So the "Mystery" bowler is on the top position of this list. Ajantha Mendis recorded his career best figures against Zimbabwe on 18th September 2012. Batting first Sri Lanka posted a huge target of 182. Zimbabwe were never in the chase as Mendis ripped apart the Zimbabwe batting line up as he took 3 wickets in his first spell itself. Mendis took mostly the wickets of batsmen which showed how big a threat he is in the shortest format of the game. Zimbabwe were all out on 100 thanks to this heroic spell of Ajantha Mendis. His economy was also brilliant, the economy was only 2 and in this process he delivered 2 maidens. This "carrom ball" inventor surely enjoys this format.
2. Rangana Herath : 5/3 (3.3 overs) against New Zealand, 2014.
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| Image Courtesy: Getty Images |
Another Sri Lankan there in this list to greet us!. Herath bowled a very tight spell against New Zealand as he grabbed a 5-wicket haul and gave only 3 runs at Chittagong,Bangladesh. Sri Lanka were batting first and could only manage a paltry 119 thanks to the superb bowling of Trent Boult and James Neesham. Anyone would've thought that 120 would be an achievable target but as you all know cricket is a funny game. New Zealand started to loose wickets early and to add upon this the superb spell of Herath. He took 5 wickets which were of dangerous batsmen such as Brendon Mccullum, Ross Taylor, James Neesham and Luke Ronchi and he cleaned up tail ender Trent Boult. Due to this spell NZ were all out for an embarrassing 60. Herath's economy rate was Hold Your Breath 0.85. Unbelievable isn't it? He was awarded the Man of the Match for this spell.
3. Umar Gul : 5/6 (3 overs) against New Zealand,2009
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| Image: Reuters |
Time for some Pakistani flavour to be added in this list. Umar Gul took 5 wickets against New Zealand on 13th June 2009 at The Oval. New Zealand were batting first and Umar Gul destroyed the middle order of New Zealand which was supposed to be the core of New Zealand's batting line up at that time. With the help of Gul's 5 wicket haul NZ could only manage 99 and Pakistan easily chased down this target to register a win. His economy was only 2 rpo. He bagged the Man of the Match award that day.
4. Ahsan Malik : 5/19 against South Africa ,2014.
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| Image Courtesy: Getty Images |
South Africa were in a huge scare for a huge upset as Netherlands had just managed to pull a victory against SA. South Africa were batting first and then came Ahsan Malik. He took 5 wickets conceding just 19 runs from his 4 over quota. His scalps were Hashim Amla,Albie Morkel,David Miller,Dale Steyn and Bueren Hendricks. Many dangerous batsmen in that list indeed! Due to this spell of Malik, SA were restricted to 145 and Netherlands found themselves only 6 runs short from winning this match. We all must admit that it was a great effort by Malik to bring Netherlands into a strong position in that match.
5. Lasith Malinga : 5/31 (4 overs) against England,2012
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| Image Courtesy: Reuters |
Sri Lankans do enjoy bowling in the T-20 format,don't they? We cant forget the "Yorker King" Lasith Malinga in this list. He picked a 5 wicket haul versus England on 1st October 2012. Batting first Sri Lanka posted 169 on board and invited England to chase this target. But it would be tough if the opponent team comprises a deadly bowler such as Malinga. He took 5 wickets giving away only 31 runs from his 4 over spell setting a win for Sri Lanka. His wickets were all batsmen such as Luke Wright, Alex Hales, Bairstow, Samit Patel and Jos Buttler. Player of the match was none other than Lasith Malinga.
6. Mark Gillespie : 4/7 versus Kenya,2007
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| Image Courtesy: Getty Images |
It was the second match of the inaugural T-20 world cup in 2007 between New Zealand and Kenya and that is when the veteran Mark Gillespie stood up and delivered a brilliant performance with the ball. Kenya were batting first and were all out for 73 thanks to Gillespie's 4 wicket haul. Kenya were never into the match and as a result NZ won the match comfortably. Gillespie's economy rate was 2.47 in the match. He was rightly awarded the Man of the Match.
7. Ravichandran Ashwin : 4/11 versus Australia,2014.
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| Image Courtesy: Getty Images |
India's premier bowler finds himself on this list. Ashwin took 4 wickets against Australia in the T-20 world cup of 2014 at Dhaka. Australian team was very vulnerable in that tournament and Ashwin took full advantage of it and grabbed 4 wickets giving away only 11 runs from his 4 over spell. India gave Australia a formidable target of 160 but Australia were all out for just 86. A huge part of credit goes to Ashwin. He had Finch,Warner,Maxwell and Muirhead back in the dressing room. Apart from this his economy rate was only 3.30. He was awarded the Man of the match for this dream spell.
8. Harbhajan Singh : 4/12 against England,2012
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| Image Courtesy: India Today |
It's the time for the Singh's to rule the roost. Harbhajan picked up 4 wickets against England in the T-20 world cup in 2012 at Colombo. India batted first and finished on 170 giving England a tough target of 171. It was always difficult on the Colombo pitch to chase down big scores and in addition of that Bhajji was in full form that day. He gave only 12 runs in his 4 wicket haul with an economy rate of 3 runs per over as Engalnd were all out for 80. He took the wickets of Eoin Morgan,Jos Buttler,Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann. He was the Player of the match.
9. Ajantha Mendis : 4/12 against West Indies,2012
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| Image Courtesy: The Hindu |
The 2012 T-20 World Cup was a great one for Ajantha Mendis as he was the highest wicket taker in the tournament with 15 wickets. He took a 4 wicket haul against the West Indies probably one of the most dangerous sides in T-20 format. This was the World Cup Final match and Mendis delivered in this match too. The pitch at Colombo was very slow and Mendis took full adavantage as he took 4 important wickets and gave away only 12 runs with an economy rate of 3 rpo. Due to this effort West Indies side was restricted to 137 but sadly Sri Lanka couldn't chase this target and West Indies were crowned as the new champions of the tournament. But this spell was certainly an amazing one.
10. R.P Singh : 4/13 versus South Africa,2007
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| Image Courtesy: BettingPro |
The year 2007 was a great year for Indian cricket as it won the first World Cup of T-20 format in South Africa. R.P.Singh had shown signs of great promise as he was one of the top bowlers in that tournament. One such example is of his spell versus South Africa taking 4 wickets and giving away only 13 runs at Durban. India set a target of 154 against South Africa which proved too much for them as they were all out for 116 courtesy R.P.Singh. He got rid of Gibbs,Graeme Smith,Albie Morkel and Pollock all of them match winners. This would remain as an evergreen spell in the history of ICC World T-20.
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