Presenting bowlers with most death-over wickets in T20 World Cups
The 2024 edition of the ICC T20 World Cup will be co-hosted by USA and West Indies. The tournament will be underway on June 1 with England starting as the defending champions. As T20 cricket is known to be dominated by batters, the bowlers will have their task cut out. Meanwhile, here are the bowlers with the most death-over wickets in T20 WCs (16-20).
Shakib Al Hasan - 16 wickets
Though spinners are known to struggle in the slog overs, Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has fared well in this phase. As per ESPNcricinfo, the left-arm spinner has tallied 16 wickets in the final five overs in the T20 WC. His economy rate in this phase reads an impressive 8.60. With 47 scalps, Shakib is also the highest wicket-taker in T20 WC history.
Lasith Malinga - 16 wickets
Arguably the pacer in the history of T20 cricket, Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga was bound to be on this list. Malinga, who grabbed eyeballs for his slingy action, also owns 16 wickets in the death overs in the gala tournament. He conceded runs at just 8.55 in this phase. Meanwhile, Malinga finished his T20 WC career with 38 scalps.
Dwayne Bravo - 17 wickets
Former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has troubled the best of batters with his variations in the death overs. In the T20 WC, he claimed 17 wickets in the death overs though his economy of 9.8 in this phase is pretty high. With 27 scalps, Bravo is still WI's leading wicket-taker in the competition's history.
Umar Gul - 21 wickets
At the second place, we have Pakistan's Umar Gul. The former pacer earned tremendous success in the T20 format due to his raw pace and variations as well. 21 of his 35 wickets in the T20 WC came in the final five overs. His economy of 7.7 in this phase is the best among bowlers with at least 12 death-over scalps in T20 WC.
Saeed Ajmal - 25 wickets
Interestingly, this list is topped by a spinner - Saeed Ajmal. The former Pakistan international did not allow batters to score runs freely toward the end. He claimed 25 wickets in the final five overs in the tournament at an excellent economy of 7.72. The former off-spinner overall claimed 36 wickets in the T20 WC, conceding runs at just 6.79.
