Pakistani Bowlers Dominate Wisden’s Top ODI Spells of 2024

Haris Rauf and Salman Ali Agha are among the top 10 ODI Spells of 2024

Wed Jan 22 2025
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistani pacer Haris Rauf (5 for 29) and all-rounder Salman Ali Agha (4 for 32) have earned prestigious spots in Wisden’s list of the top 10 ODI bowling spells of 2024, securing the 2nd and 5th positions, respectively, for their standout performances.

Wisden’s Top 10 bowling spells of ODI in 2024

No.10: Allah Ghazanfar 6-26 v Bangladesh, Sharjah

What started as a controlled pursuit of 236 for Bangladesh at 118 for 2 quickly spiralled into chaos, as Allah Ghazanfar orchestrated a breathtaking collapse, claiming the last eight wickets for a mere 23 runs in under nine overs.

Mohammad Nabi set the stage by outsmarting Najmul Hossain Shanto, but it was Ghazanfar who truly stole the spotlight—striking early by dismissing Tanzid Hasan and then executing a stunning diving catch to eliminate Mehidy Hasan Miraz at short fine leg.

His three mesmerizing carrom balls took down Mushfiqur Rahim (stumped), Rishad Hossain (lbw), and Taskin Ahmed (bowled) in the 33rd over. Though he narrowly missed a hat-trick, Ghazanfar wrapped up the innings by sending Shoriful Islam back to the pavilion, sealing victory in just 35 overs.

No.9: Charlie Cassell 7-21 v Oman, Dundee

In a remarkable turn of events, Scotland’s Charlie Cassell made history with a dazzling 7 for 21 in just 5.4 overs—setting a record for the best bowling figures on an ODI debut during a Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 match. Called up at the last minute due to an injury, Cassell’s debut unfolded like a fairy tale.

He struck gold immediately, claiming the scalps of Zeeshan Maqsood and Ayaan Khan with his very first two deliveries, then added Khalid Kail and Shoaib Khan to his tally.

After just nine balls, his astonishing figures stood at 1.3-1-0-4! Cassell etched his name in history as the first men’s bowler to take seven on debut, wrapping up Oman’s innings at a mere 91 by dismissing Bilal Khan. Scotland pursued the target with ease, clinching an impressive eight-wicket victory.

No. 8: Gudakesh Motie 4-41 v England, North Sound

The West Indies bowling unit sliced through England’s top order with surgical precision, and it was Gudakesh Motie who unleashed chaos in the middle overs.

He took down seasoned batsman Liam Livingstone, who had been ramping up the aggression following a flurry of boundaries against Roston Chase, and then swiftly followed up by sending Sam Curran back to the dugout.

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Motie didn’t stop there; he also claimed the scalps of debutants Jamie Overton and Dan Mousley, sending England spiralling from a comfortable 165-4 to a shocking 187-8 in just six overs—a catastrophic collapse that turned the match on its head.

No.7: Fazalhaq Farooqi 4-35 v South Africa, Sharjah

Afghanistan’s bowlers, spearheaded by Fazalhaq Farooqi and the prodigious 18-year-old Allah Ghazanfar, wreaked havoc on South Africa’s top order, leaving them reeling at a mere 106 in 33.3 overs. This dynamic duo unleashed their fury in an uninterrupted 10-over spell, systematically dismantling South Africa’s batting lineup.

Farooqi ignited the collapse by claiming the first three wickets—Reeza Hendricks fell to a round-the-wicket delivery, while Aiden Markram and Tony de Zorzi succumbed to Farooqi’s masterful variations in pace.

The last flicker of resistance from Wiaan Mulder was extinguished by an absolute gem from Farooqi, as the ball skidded low and snuck past his inside edge, toppling the stumps and extinguishing South Africa’s hopes in the process.

No.6: Richard Ngarava 5-32 v Sri Lanka, Colombo

In a thrilling display of resilience, Zimbabwe’s determined defence of a modest 209 nearly turned the tide in Colombo, with Richard Ngarava leading the charge and causing mayhem for the Sri Lankan batsmen.

Ngarava struck early, dismantling the top order by sending Avishka Fernando and Sadeera Samarawickrama back to the pavilion, which set the tone for a shaky start as Sri Lanka slumped to 16 for 2 in just 2.2 overs. He continued to apply pressure, cleanly bowling Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka with back-of-length deliveries that left the batsmen in disarray.

At one point, Sri Lanka found themselves reeling at 53-4, with Ngarava claiming all four wickets. However, a crucial innings of 95 from Janith Liyanage ultimately guided Sri Lanka to safety. Remarkably, it marked the second-best figures for a Zimbabwean seamer in Asia, showcasing Ngarava’s formidable talent.

No.5: Salman Agha 4-32 v South Africa, Paarl

Pakistan’s disciplined bowling unit showcased their prowess by limiting South Africa to 239-9 in Paarl, with Agha’s surprising off-spin wreaking havoc on both the top and middle orders. After a brisk start from the South African openers, who raced to 70 without a loss in just 9.4 overs, Pakistan launched a counterattack, with Agha claiming four wickets in a mere 22 balls.

His first breakthrough came when he had Tony de Zorzi leg-before-wicket, followed swiftly by Ryan Rickleton’s unfortunate chop onto his stumps. Agha then sent Rassie van der Dussen and Tristan Stubbs packing, both falling victim to his enticing flight and bounce, which left South Africa reeling at 88 for 4.

Although Heinrich Klaasen’s resilient 86 off 97 provided some consolation for the hosts, the momentum had decisively swung in favour of Pakistan.

No.4: Rashid Khan 5-19 v South Africa, Sharjah

On his 26th birthday, Rashid Khan defied a hamstring injury to deliver a spectacular, match-winning performance, leading Afghanistan to their groundbreaking first series victory against a top-five ICC-ranked team.

His brilliant spell dismantled South Africa, who plummeted from a solid 73 for no loss to a shocking all-out total of 134. After Temba Bavuma’s dismissal, Rashid quickly made his mark, snaring Tony de Zorzi’s edge and igniting a dramatic collapse. In a flurry of activity, he claimed the wickets of Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, and Wiaan Mulder within just eight balls.

Rashid’s crowning achievement came when he bowled Aiden Markram with a cunning googly. South Africa’s last eight wickets fell like dominoes for a mere 39 runs, securing a historic triumph for Afghanistan.

No.3: Jeffrey Vandersay 6-33 v India, Colombo

Jeffrey Vandersay, stepping in as a last-minute substitute for Wanindu Hasaranga, delivered a spell that rekindled memories of his undeniable talent and untapped potential. With precision in his wicket-to-wicket lines, astute seam positioning, and probing lengths, Vandersay dismantled India’s top order.

Some deliveries spun sharply, reminiscent of his best days—most notably the ones that sent Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill packing, the latter falling victim to a stunning slip catch by Kamindu Mendis.

Others skidded through, catching out Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. India, which had been cruising at 97 for no loss in pursuit of 241, faltered dramatically after Vandersay’s incisive spell, ultimately falling short by 32 runs.

No.2: Haris Rauf 5-29 v Australia, Adelaide

Haris Rauf unleashed a blistering spell that propelled Pakistan to their first ODI victory in Australia since 2017, as they tore through the hosts for a mere 163 runs. Rauf made his mark early by dismissing Josh Inglis and then delivering a Test-quality ball that straightened off the seam to catch Marnus Labuschagne’s edge.

He sent Glenn Maxwell back with a chop on and claimed Aaron Hardie with another sharp delivery. Four of Rauf’s wickets were expertly collected by captain Rizwan, who matched the record for the most dismissals in a single ODI innings.

This electrifying performance not only shifted momentum for Pakistan but also set the stage for their next ODI win, culminating in their first series victory in Australia since 2002.

No.1: Dunith Wellalage 5-27 v India, Colombo

Dunith Wellalage’s brilliant 31-ball spell was a stunning exhibition of control and variation, guiding Sri Lanka to their first ODI series win over India in 27 years. He made an impact right away, removing Rohit Sharma for 35 as the Indian captain’s sweeping attempt ended up in the keeper’s gloves.

Wellalage’s sharp turn and pinpoint accuracy continued to unsettle the batters, clean-bowling Virat Kohli with a sharply spinning delivery that left him trapped in front. He followed this by sending Axar Patel back with a quicker ball that turned sharply and then outsmarted Shreyas Iyer with a delivery that beat him for lack of spin, leading to a leg-before wicket.

Wellalage’s performance highlighted India’s ongoing struggles against spin for the third time in the series and bolstered his own impressive record against them.

 

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