By Jawad Hussain
KARACHI, Pakistan (TheSportsNext) September 19, 2012: Sri Lankan orthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis produced yet another spell of spin wizardry on Tuesday night when he demolished Zimbabwe batting line with mesmerizing deliveries that took him on top of the world.
Ajantha Mendis took six wickets for just eight runs from his four overs, out of which, two overs were maiden. He captured these figures in the inaugural match of the ICC World Twenty20 2012 (ICCWT20) at Hambantota where Zimbabwean innings was skittled to 100 runs chasing 183 runs target, thanks mainly to destructive bowling by Ajantha Mendis.
Ajantha’s bowling figures of 6/8 are the best bowling figures ever in the Twenty20 cricket. He bettered his own world record of taking six wickets for 16 runs which he posted at Pallekele Stadium in the match against Australia played on August 8, 2011.
Third in the list of all-time best bowling figures in Twenty20 cricket is by Pakistani fast bowler Umar Gul who captured five wickets for only six runs during the ICC World Twenty20 2009 tournament in the Super Eights match against New Zealand played on June 13, 2009 at The Oval. Umar Gul needed only three overs to take those five wickets.
Fourth in the list is a superb bowling performance by Bangladeshi spin bowler Elias Sunny he took five wickets for 13 runs against Ireland in a match played at Belfast on July 18, 2012.
Tim Southee is next in the list as the New Zealand fast bowler captured five wickets for 18 runs, including a hat-trick, against Pakistan at Auckland on December 26, 2010.
Ryan McLaren of South Africa rocked West Indies on May 19, 2010 at North Sound by taking five wickets for 19 runs to capture sixth place in the list of all-time best bowling figures in Twenty20 cricket.
Seventh in the list is Nehemiah Odhiambo of Kenya who took five wickets for 20 runs in a match against Scotland played at Nairobi Gymkhana on February 4, 2010.
Eighth best bowling spell ever in T20 cricket was bowled by West Indian skipper Darren Sammy who devastated Zimbabwe at Port of Spain on February 28, 2010 by taking five wickets for 26 runs.
Ninth in the list is a bowling spell delivered by West Indian left-arm off-spinner Suleman Benn who grabbed four wickets for six runs against Zimbabwe at Port of Spain on February 28, 2010.
Mark Gillespie of New Zealand recorded the best bowling figures in T20 cricket when he clobbered Kenyan side by taking four wickets for seven runs at Durban on September 12, 2007.
Top Bowling Figures in T20 Cricket
No. | Bowler | Team | O | M | R | W | VS | Date |
1 | Ajantha Mendis | SLK | 4 | 2 | 8 | 6 | ZIM | 9/18/2012 |
2 | Ajantha Mendis | SLK | 4 | 1 | 16 | 6 | AUS | 8/8/2011 |
3 | Umar Gul | PAK | 3 | 0 | 6 | 5 | NZ | 6/13/2009 |
4 | Elias Sunny | BD | 4 | 1 | 13 | 5 | IRE | 7/18/2012 |
5 | Tim Southee | NZ | 4 | 1 | 18 | 5 | PAK | 12/26/2010 |
6 | Ryan McLaren | SAF | 3.5 | 0 | 19 | 5 | WI | 5/19/2010 |
7 | Nehemiah Odhiambo | KEN | 4 | 0 | 20 | 5 | SCD | 2/4/2010 |
8 | Darren Sammy | WI | 3.5 | 0 | 26 | 5 | ZIM | 2/28/2010 |
9 | Suleman Benn | WI | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 | ZIM | 2/28/2010 |
10 | Mark Gillespie | NZ | 2.5 | 0 | 7 | 4 | KEN | 9/12/2007 |
11 | Umar Gul | PAK | 4 | 0 | 8 | 4 | AUS | 5/7/2009 |
12 | Dale Steyn | SAF | 3 | 0 | 9 | 4 | WI | 12/16/2007 |
13 | Mohammad Hafeez | PAK | 2.2 | 0 | 10 | 4 | ZIM | 9/16/2011 |
14 | Ravi Bopara | ENG | 3.4 | 0 | 10 | 4 | WI | 9/23/2011 |
15 | Shahid Afridi | PAK | 4 | 0 | 11 | 4 | NET | 6/9/2009 |
16 | Sunil Narine | WI | 4 | 0 | 12 | 4 | NZ | 7/1/2012 |
17 | RP Singh | IND | 4 | 0 | 13 | 4 | SAF | 9/20/2007 |
18 | Umar Gul | PAK | 3 | 0 | 13 | 4 | SLK | 10/11/2008 |
19 | Wayne Parnell | SAF | 4 | 0 | 13 | 4 | WI | 6/13/2009 |
20 | Shahid Afridi | PAK | 2.5 | 0 | 14 | 4 | NZ | 12/30/2010 |
