Best Bowling Figures in T20 World Cup

Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis has the best bowling figures in the T20 World Cup history. He achieved unbelievable figures of 6/8 against Zimbabwe in the 2012 T20 World Cup.  
 

The T20 World Cup has witnessed some of cricket's most remarkable bowling performances. Bowlers can turn the game around with skill, precision, and sometimes magical bowling. Bowlers like Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath, and Umar Gul have set high standards with their extraordinary figures.  

 

Top 15 Bowling Performances in T20 World Cups
Let’s look at the top bowlers who have produced the best bowling figures in T20 World Cup history from 2007 to 2024.

Rank

Player

Bowling Figures

Against

Location

Year

1

Ajantha Mendis (SL)

6/8

Zimbabwe

Hambantota

2012

2

Rangana Herath (SL)

5/3

New Zealand

Chattogram

2014

3

Umar Gul (PAK)

5/6

New Zealand

Oval

2009

4

Fazalhaq Farooqi (AFG)

5/9

Uganda

Providence

2024

5

Sam Curran (ENG)

5/10

Afghanistan

Perth

2022

6

Akeal Hosein (WI)

5/11

Uganda

Providence

2024

7

Ahsan Malik (ND)

5/19

South Africa

Adelaide

2014

8

Adam Zampa (AUS)

5/19

Bangladesh

Dubai

2021

9

Mujeeb Ur Rahman (AFG)

5/20

Scotland

Sharjah

2021

10

Mustafizur Rahman (BAN)

5/22

New Zealand

Kolkata

2016

11

James Faulkner (AUS)

5/27

Pakistan

Mohali

2016

12

Lasith Malinga (SL)

5/31

England

Pallekele

2012

13

Adil Rashid (ENG)

4/2

West Indies

Dubai

2021

14

Anrich Nortje (SA)

4/7

Sri Lanka

New York

2024

15

Tanzim Hasan Sakib (BAN)

4/7

Nepal

Kingstown

2024

Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka) - 6/8 vs Zimbabwe, 2012

Ajantha Mendis holds the record for the best bowling figures in T20 World Cup history with an extraordinary performance of 6 wickets for just 8 runs against Zimbabwe in 2012. The opponent batters were unable to handle Mendis' mystery spin. Sri Lanka scored 183 runs and won the match by 82 runs.
 

Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka) - 5/3 vs New Zealand, 2014

Rangana Herath's spell of 5 wickets for 3 runs is the second-best bowling figure in T20 World Cup history against New Zealand in 2014. Chasing 119 runs, New Zealand were dismissed for just 60 runs. Sri Lanka qualified for the semifinal and eventually won the 2014 title. Herath's precision and ability to exploit the conditions were key to his success.

 

Umar Gul (Pakistan) - 5/6 vs New Zealand, 2009

Umar Gul's remarkable spell of 5 wickets for 6 runs against New Zealand in 2009 is the third-best bowling spell in T20 World Cups. Gul's reverse swing and pinpoint accuracy destroyed the New Zealand batting for 99 runs. Pakistan won the match by 6 wickets. Umar Gul finished as the highest wicket-taker in the 2009 tournament with 13 wickets.

 

Fazalhaq Farooqi (Afghanistan) - 5/9 vs Uganda, 2024

Afghanistan Fazalhaq Farooqi's 5/9 is the fourth-best bowling figure in the T20 World Cup history. Bowling second, Farooqi's outstanding performance with the ball helped Afghanistan dismiss Uganda for just 112 runs in the group match of the T20 World Cup 2024 at Guyana. Afghanistan won the game by 125 runs.

Sam Curran (England) - 5/10 vs Afghanistan, 2022

England Sam Curran's 5/10 is the fourth-best bowling figure in the T20 World Cup history. His outstanding performance with the ball helped England dismiss Afghanistan for just 112 runs in the Super 12 match of the T20 World Cup 2022 at Perth. England won the game by 5 wickets. Sam Curran was the Player of the Tournament in the 2022 T20 World Cup.  
 

Akeal Hosein (West Indies) - 5/11 vs Uganda, 2024

Akeal Hosein's 5 wickets for 11 runs against Uganda in 2024 is the best bowling performance by a West Indies bowler in the T20 World Cup. He bettered Samuel Badree's 4/15 against Bangaldesh in 2014. Akeal's spell helped dismiss Uganda for just 39 runs, the joint-lowest total in T20 World Cup history. West Indies win the match by a record 134 runs. 

 

Ahsan Malik (Netherlands) - 5/19 vs South Africa, 2014

Ahsan Malik's 5 wickets for 19 runs against South Africa in 2014 is the best bowling performance by an associate nation bowler in the T20 World Cup. Malik's disciplined bowling helped restrict South Africa to 145 runs, but Netherlands fell short of the target by 6 runs. Malik's performance was overshadowed by Imran Tahir's 4/21.

 

Most Economical Spells in T20 Cricket

1. Lockie Ferguson (4-4-0-3) New Zealand vs PNG, 2024 

2. Saad Bin Zafar (4-4-0-2) Canada vs Panama, 2021

3. Francis Mutua (2-2-0-2) Kenya vs Mali, 2023

4. Nuwan Kulasekara (2-2-0-1) Sri Lanka vs Netherlands, 2014 

5. Junaid Siddiqui (2-2-0-1) Canada vs Panama, 2021

 

FAQs

Who has the best bowling figures in T20 World Cup history?

Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis 6 for 8 is the best bowling figures in the T20 World Cup history. His spell came against Zimbabwe in the 2012 T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka won the match by 82 runs.

 

Who has the best bowling figures in T20 World Cup 2024?

Afghanistan's Fazalhaq Farooqi's 5 for 9 is the best bowling figures in the 2024 T20 World Cup. His spell came against Uganda in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Afghanistan won the match by 125 runs.

Which player has claimed the best bowling figures in T20 history?

Malaysia’s Syazrul Idrus 7 for 8 against China is the best bowling figures in T20 cricket. China was all out for just 23 runs and Malaysia won by 8 wickets.

Who has bowled 24 dot balls in a T20 match?

New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson 3/0 is the most economical spell in T20 cricket. Ferguson bowled 24 dot balls and 4 maiden overs in his spell. Canada's Saad Bin Zafar had figures of 2/0 in 4 overs against Panama in 2021.

 

Who has the best bowling figures in the T20 World Cup for India?

Arshdeep Singh's 4 for 9 against USA at New York, 2024 is the best bowling figures for India in the T20 World Cup. Bowling first, Arshdeep’s spell helped restrict USA to 110 runs. India won the match by 7 wickets.

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