On June 9, 2017, Asghar Afghan’s Afghanistan stunned West Indies at their own turf, beating them by 63 runs despite putting on a lowly 212/6 on board in 50 overs.
Achieving the target seemed like a routine training for the Men in Maroon, who had big hitters likes Evin Lewis, Shai Hope and Roston Chase in their ranks. As it turned out though, a certain Rashid Khan, who had made his ODI debut only two years back, romped through the entire West Indies batting line-up to return with a figure of 7/18 in 8.4 overs, while helping his teammates dismiss their opponents on 149.
So, on the third anniversary of Rashid Khan’s match-winning spell, which happens to be the fourth-best figure in ODI format, we give you a list of the five best bowling performances in ODI cricket.
Chaminda Vaas – 8/19 vs Zimbabwe (2001)
Arguably the most underrated bowler the sport has ever seen, Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Vaas delivered the best-ever spell of ODI cricket in December 2001 when he squared off against Zimbabwe in Colombo. After winning the toss, captain Sanath Jayasuriya decided to send Zimbabwe out to bat, and the decision worked wonders as Vaas dismantled his opponents in absolute style.
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Dismissing Dion Ebrahim in the very first delivery of the match, Vaas went on to pick as many as eight wickets for a mere 19 runs -- including a hat-trick in his sixth over -- as Zimbabwe was bundled out for 38. The list of his victims included the likes of Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Heath Streak and Mluleki Nkala.
It took Sri Lanka just 4.2 overs to reach the target as they won by nine wickets with 274 balls remaining.
Shahid Afridi – 7/12 vs West Indies (2013)
In the first ODI of Pakistan’s tour of West Indies in 2013, all-rounder Shahid Afridi delivered a performance of a lifetime both with the ball and the bat.
Pakistan were put in to bat and they soon found themselves in a state of despair, having been reduced to 47/5 in 20 overs, with Jason Holder picking four for just 13. Out came Afridi and the all-rounder smashed a 55-ball 76 to take Pakistan out of their misery and guiding them to 224/9 in 50 overs.
With a skimpy total to defend, Afridi stepped out on field with the ball and marched through his opponent’s batting line-up to return with a figure of 7/12 in nine overs, which included three maidens. With Mohammad Irfan picking two for 17, Pakistan dismissed West Indies for just 98, winning the game by 126 runs.
Glenn McGrath – 7/15 vs Namibia (2003)
It was during the 2003 World Cup when Australia’s Glenn McGrath delivered one of his finest bowling performances.
Up against Namibia while defending his side’s 301/6 in the penultimate game of Australia’s group-stage game, McGrath set the tone in the very first over by dismissing Jan-Berrie Burger. His next six wickets came in just seven overs as he returned with a figure of 7/15. Andy Bichel and Brett Lee did the rest as Australia dismissed Namibia for just 45 to register a victory by 256 runs.
McGrath was rightly adjudged the Man of the Match.
Rashid Khan – 7/18 vs West Indies (2017)
Having set the benchmark quite early in his career, leg-spinner Rashid Khan has established himself as one of the best bowlers of his generation.
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The 21-year-old delivered his best ODI spell at Saint Lucia after his side posted just 212/6 in 50 overs against West Indies in the first of the three-match ODI series. The drama began when Rashid walked out to bowl, and his very first victim was a certain Jason Mohammed. The leggie then marched on to pick six more wickets, which included the likes of Roston Chase, Shai Hope, Jason Holder, Ashley Nurse, Alzarri Joseph and Miguel Cummins, as Afghanistan asserted their authority in style.
Andy Bichel – 7/20 vs England (2003)
In the same tournament where Glenn McGrath delivered his best-ever ODI bowling spell, his teammate Andy Bichel did the same against a rather superior opponent, England.
What makes Bichel’s return even more special is the fact that had Jason Gillespie been fit, he wouldn’t have been playing the game anyway. In fact, until this game against England, he had only featured twice in the tournament, that too against Namibia and the Netherlands.
England, for their part, got off to a flying start after winning the toss, with openers Nick Knight and Marcus Trescothick putting on a 66-run stand inside 10 overs. And Bichel struck exactly when Australia needed, by dismissing Knight.
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His blitz continued, with the likes of Michael Vaughan and Nasser Hussain being his next victims before Paul Collingwood was shown his way back as well. Even though England did try to resurrect the sunken ship, Bichel’s return of 7/20 in 10 overs restricted them to just 204/8.
Australia went on to win the game by two wickets on the back of Michael Bevan’s 74.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Randy Brooks
