T20 cricket is often hailed as a batsman's game and given the nature of the game it is rightly so. But there are instances when the bowlers too had the upper hand. Bowling is an art that needs to be mastered and properly strategized before execution in a T20 match. Today we will have a look at some of the masters in the craft of bowling at the greatest stage of all. Presenting you the list of Best Bowling Spells in the T20 World Cup history.
•Ajantha Mendis: (6 for 8).
Ajantha Mendis' 6 wickets for 8 runs is the best ever bowling figures achieved by a bowler in World T20s. The mystery spinner lighted up the T20 World Cup in 2012 in the opening match itself as Srilanka demolished Zimbabwe by 82 runs. The Zimbabwean batsmen were clueless against the wizardry of Ajantha Mendis as Mendis accounted for 2 maiden overs in his 4 overs spell.
•Rangana Herath: (5 for 3).
Fellow Srilankan tweaker Rangana Herath holds the second best bowling figures in T20 World Cup history scalping 5 wickets for 3 runs in 3.2 overs. Herath achieved this remarkable feat against New Zealand in a low scoring thriller in Chittagong as the Kiwis failed to chase down 119. Herath's 5 wicket haul is the most economical spell bowled ever in a T20 international as he went for less than a run per over and bowled a record 18 dot balls in his 21 balls spell along with 2 maidens.
•Umar Gul: (5 for 6).
Umar Gul, the leading wicket taker for Pakistan in World T20 history is the next entrant in the list. Gul known for his accurate line and length with a late swing was at his level best against New Zealand at the Oval as Gul ran through the batting lineup scalping 5 wickets giving way only 6 runs as the Kiwis were bundled for 99 runs. Umar Gul was twice in hat tricks and in the process went on to become the first bowler to scalp 5 wickets in a World T20 stage.
•Ahsan Malik: (5 for 19).
Ahsan Malik may not be a familiar face in the Cricket fraternity but the Dutch pacer definitely features in one of the most elite list in the history of the game. Malik picked up 5 wickets against the mighty Proteas in a league match of 2014 T20 World Cup giving away only 19 runs. Malik holds the record of being the sole representative of an Associate nation picking up a fifer against a major test playing nation.
•Mujeeb ur Rehman: (5 for 20).
Afghanistan's mystery offie Mujeeb ur Rahman is the next bowler in the list. Mujeeb scalped 5 wickets for 20 runs against Scotland in the ongoing T20 World Cup in Sharjah. Mujeeb who is known for his ability to spin the ball in both ways left the Scottish batsmen baffled as Scotland was bundled out for a mere 60 runs chasing a target of 190.
However the list doesn't end here. Some of the other worthy mentions are:
Mustafizur Rahman's 5 wicket haul against New Zealand in 2016 World T20. Fizz conceded 22 runs in his 4 overs as Bangladesh went past New Zealand.
James Faulkner took a fifer against Pakistan in 2016 T20 World Cup. Faulkner took 5 wickets for 27 runs in that match.
Lasith Malinga arguably one of the best T20 bowlers in the world too features in this list. Malinga took 5 wickets for 31 runs against England in the 2012 edition of T20 World Cup.
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