Cricket over the years, has developed into a dynamic and diverse sport with Test matches, One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and T20s. The ones special for a keen cricket lover, are ODIs since they struck a perfect balance between the pure Test match and the fast-paced T20 match. In these, bowlers always played a pivotal role-they were capable of turning games and dismantling the entire batting line-up.
In this article, we will look into the best bowling figures in ODI cricket. We will be interested in individual performances that have woven their names into the fabric of the game’s history.
Top 20 Best Bowling Figures in ODI Cricket
| Player | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Team | Opposition | Ground | Match Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaminda Vaas | 8 | 3 | 19 | 8 | 2.37 | Sri Lanka | v Zimbabwe | Colombo (SSC) | 08 Dec 2001 |
| Shahid Afridi | 9 | 3 | 12 | 7 | 1.33 | Pakistan | v West Indies | Providence | 14 Jul 2013 |
| Glenn McGrath | 7 | 4 | 15 | 7 | 2.14 | Australia | v Namibia | Potchefstroom | 27 Feb 2003 |
| Rashid Khan | 8.4 | 1 | 18 | 7 | 2.07 | Afghanistan | v West Indies | Gros Islet | 09 Jun 2017 |
| Waninindu Hasaranga | 5.5 | 1 | 19 | 7 | 3.25 | Sri Lanka | v Zimbabwe | Colombo (RPS) | 11 Jan 2024 |
| Andy Bichel | 10 | – | 20 | 7 | 2 | Australia | v England | Gqeberha | 02 Mar 2003 |
| Charlie Cassell | 5.4 | 1 | 21 | 7 | 3.7 | Scotland | v Oman | Dundee | 22 Jul 2024 |
| Muttiah Muralidaran | 10 | 1 | 30 | 7 | 3 | Sri Lanka | v India | Sharjah | 27 Oct 2000 |
| Ali Khan | 9.4 | – | 32 | 7 | 3.31 | U.S.A. | v Jersey | Windhoek | 04 Apr 2023 |
| Tim Southee | 9 | – | 33 | 7 | 3.66 | New Zealand | v England | Wellington | 20 Feb 2015 |
| Trent Boult | 10 | 3 | 34 | 7 | 3.4 | New Zealand | v West Indies | Christchurch | 23 Dec 2017 |
| Waqar Younis | 10 | – | 36 | 7 | 3.6 | Pakistan | v England | Leeds | 17 Jun 2001 |
| Aaqib Javed | 10 | 1 | 37 | 7 | 3.7 | Pakistan | v India | Sharjah | 25 Oct 1991 |
| Imran Tahir | 9 | – | 45 | 7 | 5 | South Africa | v West Indies | Basseterre | 15 Jun 2016 |
| Winston Davis | 10.3 | – | 51 | 7 | 4.85 | West Indies | v Australia | Leeds | 11 Jun 1983 |
| Mohammed Shami | 9.5 | – | 57 | 7 | 5.79 | India | v New Zealand | Wankhede | 15 Nov 2023 |
| Stuart Binny | 4.4 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0.85 | India | v Bangladesh | Mirpur | 17 Jun 2014 |
| Sandeep Lamichhane | 5.1 | – | 11 | 6 | 2.12 | Nepal | v P.N.G. | Al Amerat | 10 Sep 2021 |
| Anil Kumble | 6.1 | 2 | 12 | 6 | 1.94 | India | v West Indies | Eden Gardens | 27 Nov 1993 |
| Ajantha Mendis | 8 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 1.62 | Sri Lanka | v India | Karachi | 06 Jul 2008 |
Top 5 Best Bowling Figures in ODI
1. Chaminda Vaas – 8/19 vs Zimbabwe (2001)
Sri lankan left arm seamer Chaminda Vaas’s 8/19 against Zimbabwe in 2001 still stands as the highest bowling figure in ODI history. With a destructive spell of swing bowling, Vaas’s record-shattering performance came at the SSC (Sinhalese Sports Club) Stadium in Colombo, where he shredded the Zimbabwe batting order without much trouble. His murderous swing bowling accounted for eight of the ten wickets, conceding just 19 runs.
Match Context:
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field first, but Vaas quickly demolished their batting line-up, swinging the ball in both directions and the Chevron’s batsmen helpless. His ability to move the ball off the seam made him lethal on the day. Zimbabwe were bowled out for just 38 runs, and Vaas’s 8-wicket haul still stands as the greatest individual bowling performance in ODI history.
- Wickets: 8
- Runs: 19
- Overs: 8.0 (3 maidens)
- Economy Rate: 2.37
2. Shahid Afridi – 7/12 vs West Indies (2013)
Shahid Afridi is more talked about as a batsman, his bowling is still among the most spectacular recorded in ODI cricketing history when he took 7 wickets for just 12 runs against the West Indies in 2013.
Match Context:
Pakistan, batting first at Guyana, made a total of 224/9. Afridi chipped in with a spell of leg-spin that destroyed the West Indian batting line-up, apart from his quick-fire 76 with the bat. His leg-breaks and googlies put the opposition in tatters, knocking them over for just 98.
- Wickets: 7
- Runs: 12
- Overs: 9 (3 maidens)
- Economy Rate: 1.33
This performance ranked second in the all-time list of best bowling figures in ODI and showcased Afridi’s tremendous versatility.
Read More: Top 10 Batsman Fastest 200 in ODI || Fastest Century in T20 International
3. Glenn McGrath – 7/15 vs Namibia (2003)
Glenn McGrath is the finest fast bowler in history, and the bowling this time was phenomenal. In the 2003 ICC World Cup, he took all 7 wickets for 15 runs against Namibia.
Match Context:
Australia set the difficult task of scoring 302 for Namibia. McGrath sent the Namibian top order into tatters with his precision and generation of bounce from the surface. His show made things tough for Namibia to come to terms with, as they were bowled out for just 45.
- Wickets: 7
- Runs: 15
- Overs: 7 (4 maidens)
- Economy Rate: 2.14
4. Rashid Khan – 7/18 vs West Indies (2017)
Afghanistan’s spin master Rashid Khan became a superstar by taking 7 wickets for 18 runs against the West Indies in 2017.
Match Context:
It was during the West Indies tour of Afghanistan when Rashid performed. The Afghan chances surged after posting 212 runs when Rashid bowled outstandingly, leaving the Caribbean batsmen bowled out for 149 runs.
- Wickets: 7
- Runs: 18
- Overs: 8.4 (1 maiden)
- Economy Rate: 2.07
5. Wanindu Hasaranga – 7/19 vs Zimbabwe (2024)
Wanindu Hasaranga is Sri Lanka’s leg-spinner and one of the rising stars in world cricket. In 2024, Hasaranga produced an innings that will be written in history books when he captured 7 wickets for 19 runs against South Africa making him fifth on the list of best bowling figures in ODI history.
Match Context:
This was a decisive match in an ODI where Zimbabwe visited Sri Lanka. Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to bat first, but Hasaranga’s leg spin and unplayable googlies made Zimbabwe bowl out for only 96.
- Wickets: 7
- Runs: 19
- Overs: 5.5 (1 maiden)
- Economy Rate: 3.25
Also Read: Most Runs in ODI 2023 || Most Runs in ODI Cricket History
