Best Performances By Bowlers in T20 World Cup 2024 : The T20 World Cup is the ultimate cricketing stage, where explosive batting and fast-paced drama often steal the headlines. However, bowlers play an equally vital role, turning games with their skills, variations, and composure under pressure. Over the years, several bowlers have produced match-winning performances in the T20 World Cup, leaving a lasting impact on the sport. Let’s take a look at some of the finest bowling displays that have shaped T20 World Cup history.
Best Performances By Bowlers in T20 World Cup 2024
1. Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) – 2007 T20 World Cup Final
Lasith Malinga is one of the greatest fast bowlers to have ever played T20 cricket, and his performance in the 2007 T20 World Cup final was nothing short of iconic. Sri Lanka faced Australia, a dominant force in world cricket, in what was expected to be a closely contested match. Malinga stepped up on the big stage, delivering a masterclass in death bowling.
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He took four wickets for just 12 runs in his four overs, choking Australia’s batting lineup and giving Sri Lanka a firm grip on the match. Malinga’s ability to generate bounce, seam movement, and swing, even on flat wickets, made life incredibly difficult for the Australian batsmen. His devastating yorkers and well-disguised slower deliveries left the Australian batting in tatters. This outstanding performance earned Malinga the Man of the Match award and cemented his reputation as a big-match player. Although Sri Lanka narrowly lost the final, Malinga’s performance will forever be remembered as one of the best in T20 World Cup history.
2. Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan) – 2009 T20 World Cup
In the 2009 edition of the T20 World Cup, Saeed Ajmal’s wizardry with the ball was a cornerstone of Pakistan’s journey to the final. Ajmal, a crafty off-spinner, thrived in conditions that favored turn and subtle variations. He picked up 11 wickets in six matches, consistently troubling batsmen with his doosra, a delivery that spun in the opposite direction to a normal off-spin ball.
One of his standout performances came in the semi-final against South Africa, where he claimed crucial wickets and applied immense pressure on the opposition. Ajmal’s ability to keep the scoring rate down and take wickets in crucial moments made him a lethal asset for Pakistan. His four-wicket haul against England in the tournament was another highlight, displaying his skills as a match-winner in the shortest format of the game. While Pakistan ultimately fell short in the final against England, Ajmal’s contributions were pivotal in their campaign.
3. Sunil Narine (West Indies) – 2012 T20 World Cup
Sunil Narine’s impact in the 2012 T20 World Cup was undeniable, with his mystery spin propelling West Indies to their maiden T20 World Cup title. Narine, renowned for his unorthodox action and the ability to bowl a variety of deliveries with little discernible change in action, was a nightmare for batsmen to face. He picked up 12 wickets in seven matches during the tournament, with one of his most remarkable performances coming in the semi-final against Australia.
Narine’s four-wicket haul in that match was instrumental in dismantling the Australian batting order, and his controlled bowling throughout the tournament ensured that West Indies always had a dependable option in the middle overs. His consistency and knack for striking at key moments played a crucial role in West Indies’ victory over Sri Lanka in the final, securing them their first T20 World Cup title.
4. Samuel Badree (West Indies) – 2016 T20 World Cup
Samuel Badree’s leg-spin bowling was a revelation in the 2016 T20 World Cup. The West Indian spinner picked up nine wickets in seven matches, including a four-wicket haul against England in the group stage. Badree’s ability to control the pace of his deliveries and his knack for bowling crucial overs made him a nightmare for opposition teams. His performances were crucial in West Indies’ run to the semi-finals, where they were narrowly defeated by England. Best Performances By Bowlers in T20 World Cup 2024
5. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) – 2021 T20 World Cup
Rashid Khan’s leg-spin bowling has become a force to be reckoned with in T20 cricket. The Afghan spinner’s ability to extract turn from any surface, coupled with his lightning-quick delivery, makes him a nightmare for batsmen to face. Khan’s performances in the 2021 T20 World Cup were particularly impressive, as he picked up 11 wickets in seven matches, including a four-wicket haul against Namibia. His performances were crucial in Afghanistan’s run to the semi-finals, where they were narrowly defeated by New Zealand.
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