Superb batting is usually the aspect most remarked on in a cricket match, but it is only great bowling that can really tip the scales in favor of a team. The bowler throws the ball with the intention of hitting the stumps, and by using various types of deliveries he can completely dazzle the batsman thus leading him to the brink of despair, forcing him to play poorly and finally going back to the dressing room.
Thus, here are the 10 best bowling performances from the ICC World Cups that turned out to be a victory for their teams.
10. Mitchell Starc – 6/28 vs New Zealand, 2015
Mitchell Starc, the fastest bowler in cricket, is part of the current Australia’s One Day International (ODI) team. On February 28, 2015, the 20th Pool A match in the 2015 ICC World Cup was held at Eden Park in Auckland between the New Zealand and the Australians.
In his marvelous performance, he took 6 wickets for only 28 runs which gave him the best economy rate at 3.11, but the defeat of his team was inevitable. Notably, however, this performance is definitely the top among bowling efforts in the ODI World Cup.
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Starc was also the Player of the Tournament as he took 22 wickets in the 2015 edition.
9. Kemar Roach – 6/27 vs Netherlands, 2011
Kemar Roach, the West Indies right-arm fast bowler, was a recipient of accolades for his bowling as he was part of the West Indian World Cup squad in 2011.
On February 28, 2011, in the 13th match of Group B, the West Indies took on the Netherlands. The spell of Roach at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium is one of the best bowling performances in the tournament’s history.
Roach dismissed 6 batsmen in 8.3 overs while conceding only 27 runs at an excellent economy rate of 3.17. The West Indies won by 215 runs and Kemar Roach was awarded the Player of the Match for his brilliant bowling effort.
8. Chaminda Vaas – 6/25 vs Bangladesh, 2003
Amongst all the left-arm seamers of Sri Lanka, Chaminda Vaas stands out as the best. He is considered the greatest of the fast bowlers and even a decade after his retirement, his memory is still fresh with the cricket fans. Vaas was one of the players chosen for the World XI in Test and ODIs and won the Player of the Year award at ICC inaugural ceremony in 2004.
On 14th February 2003, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh played their ten match of the pool B in the world cup. Vaas picked up 6 wickets for only 25 runs in his total 9.1 overs, which included two maiden overs. He was simply unstoppable and had a phenomenal economy rate of 2.72.
Sri Lanka finished their innings scoring 126 runs without a loss of wicket in a little over 21 overs. So, Sri Lanka won the match by ten wickets and Vaas got the Player of the Match award for his incredible bowling performance.
7. Shane Bond – 6/23 vs Australia, 2003
New Zealand and Australia crossed swords on March 11, 2003, in the fifth Super Six match of the 2003 tournament. New Zealand, after winning the toss and opting to field, saw Australia score 208/9 in 50 overs.
Shane Bond got among the Australian batsmen and his 10-over spell included two maiden overs and he ended up with the fantastic figures of 6 wickets for just 23 runs giving only at a remarkable economic rate of 2.30.
In pursuit of the target, New Zealand could only manage 112 runs in 30.1 overs, and consequently, the match was won by Australia with a margin of 96 runs.
6. Ashish Nehra – 6/23 vs England, 2003
On 26 February 2003, India and England clashed in the Pool A 30th match. The Indian team after winning the toss decided to bat first and put up a score of 250/9 in their 50 overs. England started their innings but were soon on the back foot as Nehra was wreaking havoc on their wickets.
Nehra, who was a left-arm Indian pacer, delivered his best performance in the world cup. He took 6 wickets and only allowed 23 runs in his 10-over spell with a phenomenal economy rate of 2.30.
Hitting the target, England finished their innings at 168 runs in 45.3 overs, and India won the match by 82 runs.
5. Gary Gilmour – 6/14 vs England, 1975
Gary Gilmour made one of the best bowling displays in ICC World Cup history in the very first semi-final of the 1975 Prudential World Cup.
On June 18, 1975, at Headingley Stadium, Australia and England met. The first-timers’ toss was won by Australia and they chose to bat.
Thanks to Gary Gilmour’s 6 wickets in 12 overs, two of which were maidens, England, while batting first, made only 93 runs in 36.2 overs. The bowler gave away just 14 runs that day at a very low economy rate of just 1.16.
4. Winston Davis – 7/51 vs Australia, 1983
Winston Walter Davis, a cricketer from the West Indies, was part of the 1983 World Cup squad. The group B’s seventh match saw this astonishing bowler deliver probably the best balling performance of the entire ICC World Cups.
Winston Davis earned 7 wickets at the rate of 4.85 in 10.3 overs and the Windies win over the Aussies by 101 runs was really a great accomplishment in cricket.
3. Tim Southee – 7/33 vs England, 2015
New Zealand faced England in the 9th match of pool A of the ICC World Cup 2015 at Westpac Stadium on February 20, 2015. England opted to bat first and managed to score only 123 runs in 33.2 overs. New Zealand’s Tim Southee got 7 wickets in 9 overs while allowing only 33 runs at a fantastic economy rate of 3.66.
New Zealand chased the total, scoring 125 runs with two wickets in 12.2 overs. New Zealand won by eight wickets and Tim Southee was awarded Player of the Match for his superb bowling performance.
2. Andy Bichel – 7/20 vs England, 2003
March 2, 2003, was the day when Australia and England clashed in the 37th match of Pool A in the 2003 World Cup at St George’s Park Stadium. England’s decision to bat first paid off as they scored 204/8 in 50 overs.
Australia’s Andy Bichel took 7 wickets in 10 overs and ensured that England’s total was not a large one. His economic rate was the lowest among bowlers as he gave away just 20 runs.
1. Glenn McGrath – 7/15 vs Namibia, 2003
The match between Australia and Namibia was the 31st of Pool A at North West Cricket Stadium on 27th February 2003. The losing team called the toss and came out to bat first, scoring 301/6 in 50 overs. Namibia in reply scored 45 runs in 14 overs and lost all ten wickets.
The Zimbabwean batsmen were just like ghosts to McGrath’s firepower. Glenn McGrath was unstoppable getting 7 wickets in his 7 overs, four of which were maidens, while conceding only 15 runs at a fantastic economy rate of 2.14.
