T20 World Cup: Here are best bowling returns for pacers
The 2024 ICC T20 World Cup will begin on June 1. It will be co-hosted by the West Indies and USA. The impending event will likely see the domination of spinners as the Caribbean pitches are slow and dry in nature. However, pacers will also have a vital role to play across phases. Here are their best bowling returns in T20 WCs.
Mustafizur Rahman - 5/22 versus New Zealand, 2016
Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman is the only Bangladesh bowler with a T20 WC fifer. He ran through New Zealand's batting line-up in the 2016 game in Kolkata. Rahman claimed key wickets of Henry Nicholls, Kane Williamson, Grant Elliott, Mitchell Santner, and Nathan McCullum to finish with 5/22 in four overs. Though NZ were restricted to 145/8, Bangladesh were folded for just 70 in reply.
Ahsan Malik - 5/19 versus South Africa 2014
Netherlands's Ahsan Malik is the only bowler with a T20 WC fifer versus South Africa. It was a 2014 T20 WC game in Chattogram and Ahsan was sensational. The pacer dismissed Hashim Amla, Albie Morkel, David Miller, Dale Steyn, and Beuran Hendricks to finish with 5/19 in four overs. His efforts, however, went in vain as SA won by six runs after posting 145/9.
Sam Curran - 5/10 versus Afghanistan, 2022
England pacer Sam Curran bagged a fifer versus Afghanistan in a 2022 T20 WC game in Perth. He picked 5/10 from just 3.4 overs as he sent back the likes of Ibrahim Zadran, Usman Ghani, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, and Fazalhaq Farooqi. Curran's brilliance meant Afghanistan were folded for 112. England eventually won by five wickets.
Umar Gul - 5/6 versus New Zealand, 2009
Former Pakistan pacer Umar Gul was at his best versus NZ in the 2009 game at the Oval. He ran through their middle order and dismissed the likes of Scott Styris, Peter McGlashan, Nathan McCullum, James Franklin, and Kyle Mills to finish with 5/6 in just three overs. NZ, who were folded for 99, suffered a solid six-wicket defeat.
