When Charlie Cassell got Oman No. 11 Bilal Khan caught behind in Dundee, he broke Kagiso Rabada’s nine-year record for best bowling spell on debut in men’s ODIs. Charlie Cassell, a Scottish debutant bowler, registered the greatest bowling numbers on his debut with 7/21 in men’s ODI cricket.
It was a dream debut for Cassell, who took two wickets in his first two deliveries and went on to take seven wickets in total, leading Scotland to a comfortable victory.
After the game, Cassell remarked, “It’s a bit surreal.”
“You wake up hoping to get one or two on your debut, you don’t expect to get seven. You don’t feel too under pressure with the boys, they just want you to enjoy your cricket. I felt very relaxed, just hoping to find the right spot, and today was just one of those days” he continued.
This record-breaking bowling spell by Charlie Cassell is also the seventh-best bowling figure by a bowler in ODIs.
Best bowling figures in Men’s ODIs
| Player | Country | Opposition | Year | Figures |
| Chaminda Vaas | Sri Lanka | Zimbabwe | 2001 | 8/19 |
| Shahid Afridi | Pakistan | West Indies | 2013 | 7/12 |
| Glenn McGrath | Australia | Namibia | 2003 | 7/15 |
| Rashid Khan | Afghanistan | West Indies | 2017 | 7/18 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | Sri Lanka | Zimbabwe | 2024 | 7/19 |
| Andy Bichel | Australia | England | 2003 | 7/20 |
| Charlie Cassell | Scotland | Oman | 2024 | 7/21 |
In place of fast bowler Chris Sole, who was unable to play due to personal reasons, Cassell was added to the Scotland squad for the game against Oman.
“You’ve come back from a huge setback, with that massive injury you had, put you out for a year and a bit,” Scotland captain Richie Berrington said when he presented Cassell with his cap before the game against Oman. “Just to see your resilience coming back, getting back on the park, and just love watching what you do at Forfs [Forfarshire], and just the way how you hold yourself is incredible.”
With the first two balls he bowled against Oman, Cassell bowled Ayaan Khan and trapped Zeeshan Maqsood’s leg before wicket, setting him an incredible start to his international career. Despite missing a hat-trick, Cassell had incredible stats of 1.3-1-0-4 when he trapped Khalid Kail off his fourth delivery and Shoaib Khan in his second over.
The fifth wicket for Cassell was Mehran Khan. After that, he removed Pratik Athavale from the game to become the only bowler, along with Rabada and Fidel Edwards of the West Indies, to have six wickets on their ODI debut. He then ended Oman’s innings by having Bilal Khan caught behind, recording a record seventh in his first-ever international.
With eight wickets remaining and 196 balls left, Scotland completed a 91-run victory over Oman in 21.4 overs, thanks to Cassell’s 7 for 21.
