Most wickets by spinners in a 3-match ODI series
Spinners dominated the proceedings in the recently concluded three-match ODI series between India and Sri Lanka. It was a low-scoring affair as not even a single 250-plus score was witnessed across the six innings, a rarity in modern-day cricket. SL put up a better display and recorded a 2-0 win. Here we look at the three-match series which witnessed most wickets fell to spin.
IND vs SL, 2024 - 43 wickets
As per ESPNcricinfo, spinners took 43 of the 54 fallen wickets in the recent IND-SL series. Notably, India lost nine wickets apiece to spin in each of the three games. Jeffrey Vandersay (8 wickets), Dunith Wellalage (7), and skipper Charith Asalanka (6) were SL's key performers. For India, Washington Sundar (5), Axar Patel (4), and Kuldeep Yadav (4) did well in the spin department.
PAK vs BAN, 2011 - 36 wickets
Pakistan decimated Bangladesh 3-0 in the 2011 away ODI series. Spinners had a gala time as they claimed 36 of the 49 fallen wickets. Pakistan star Mohammad Hafeez (6) and Shahid Afridi (5) were the leading spinners in that series. For Bangladesh, left-arm spinners Shakib Al Hasan and Abdur Razzak took four wickets apiece.
SA vs SL, 2021 - 33 wickets
All three games in the 2021 South Africa-Sri Lanka ODI series took place in Colombo. SL won that series 2-1 as spinners struck a total of 33 times. SA stars Tabraiz Shamsi (6) and Keshav Maharaj (6) were the leading wicket-takers. The former even claimed a fifer. For Sri Lanka, the duo of Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga took four wickets apiece.
ZIM vs SL, 1998 - 31 wickets
SL thrashed Zimbabwe 3-0 in the 1998 home series. All three games in Colombo saw the spinners do the talking as they claimed 31 of the 40 fallen wickets. Ace leg-spinner Upul Chandana took seven wickets while Kumar Dharmasena had five scalps. Grant Flower (5) and Paul Strang (4) did well for Zimbabwe.
