ODI World Cups perhaps remain the most-watched event in the cricketing sphere. Conducted every four years, the marquee tournament has witnessed some mind-blowing bowling spells. Here we recount four unforgettable match-winning bowling spells from the World Cups.
Andy Bichel - 7/20 vs England - 2003 World Cup
Australia were the overwhelming favourites in the 2003 World Cup and for this particular encounter against England at Port Elizabeth. Having opted to bat first, England got off to a flier, courtesy Nick Knight and Marcus Trescothick, but Andy Bichel created the first breakthrough by dismissing Knight. He went on to dismiss Michael Vaughan and Nasser Hussain in his next over and Paul Collingwood a few overs later. Even as England resurrected through Alec Stewart and Andrew Flintoff, Bichel came back to dismiss the two in successive overs. He finished with sensational figures of 10-0-20-7 as England finished at 204/8.
Tim Southee - 7/33 England - 2015 World Cup
In the 2015 World Cup game between England and New Zealand at Wellington, Tim Southee ripped through the English batting line-up with a searing spell of 7 for 33. England lost their openers to Southee in successive overs. He then came back for a spell with England having 100-plus runs on the board with four wickets down. Southee dismissed James Taylor, Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad and Steven Finn in the space of four overs to clean up England for 123 and finish with figures of 9-0-33-7.
Chaminda Vaas - 6/25 vs Bangladesh - 2003 World Cup
In Pietermaritzburg in 2003, Chaminda Vaas wreaked havoc early in the game, sending back four Bangladesh batsmen in the opening over including the first three wickets coming off the first three balls of the match (a hat-trick). Vaas dismissed Hannan Sarkar, Mohammad Ashraful and Ehsanul Haque in the first three balls and added the wicket of Sanwar Hossain in the fifth ball. In the fifth over, Vaas added another to complete his five-wicket haul. He returned later in the game to add a sixth-wicket and finish with outstanding figures of 6 for 25 as Bangladesh were bowled out for 124.
Winston Davis - 7/51 vs Australia - 1983 World Cup
Chasing 253 for a win in the seventh game of the 1983 World Cup, the Australians were hit by the phenomenon called Winston Davis. Coming in to bowl after Andy Roberts and Michael Holding, Winston Davis ran through the Aussie middle-order, dismissing Kim Hughes, David Hookes, Graham Yallop and Allan Border. He added three more wickets as Australia were bowled out for 151, with Davis finishing with the then best spell in ODIs - 7/51 in 10.3 overs.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Adrian Dennis
