T20 World Cup: 5 bowling performances that helped win the cup
Umar Gul against NZ [PC: Twitter]
To the delight of cricket fans across the globe, the T20 World Cup is set to commence after a few days. Sixteen top teams will be battling it out for the mercurial trophy Down Under.
As the World Cup is getting closer, here's a small attempt to make you recall the five best bowling spells in the history of the mega event.
5. 4/13 by RP Singh vs South Africa, 2007
How often do we see an Indian fast bowler wreaking havoc in the opposition's camp? The sight is pretty rare, no? But what RP Singh did in a must-win game against a robust Proteas outfit was nothing short of spectacular.
Chasing 154 was never too much to ask for a team having stalwarts like Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs, AB Devilliers, Justin Kemp etc. But they all fell prey to a rookie who just ripped through their batting line-up. Pace, swing, seam and accuracy; RP's bowling had every sort of question that South Africa failed to answer.
Gibbs was trapped plumb in front; Smith was exceptionally caught by Dinesh Karthik; Shaun Pollock and Albie Morkel were cleaned up. A chase of a mere 154 seemed unreachable for the hosts, as they finished the innings at 116, losing the game comprehensively by 37 runs.
4. 5/6 by Umar Gul vs New Zealand, 2009
I rate this spell as one of the fiercest ever I have seen in a T20 World Cup.
New Zealand got off to a decent start, courtesy of quick cameos from Brendon McCullum and Aaron Redmond. But little did they know that the 'Guldozer' was about to strike them.
After getting rid of Scott Styris, Umar Gul weaved his magic with the old ball. The Kiwis had no answers to his booming inswingers and lethal bumpers as they packed their bags for the dugout one after the other.
New Zealand had a long batting line-up, with Daniel Vettori coming at number nine. But Gul's masterclass proved too good for them, as they were bundled out for a mere 99, losing the game eventually by six wickets.
3. 3/16 by Irfan Pathan vs Pakistan, 2007
This spell involved neither extreme pace nor prodigious seam movement. But what makes it unique is the occasion on which it surfaced.
India were defending a modest 156 against their arch-rivals Pakistan in the Grand Finale of the 2007 World Cup. RP Singh had broken the back of Pakistan's top order. But with players like Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik to come, the game was still hanging in the balance.
The great MS Dhoni brought his middle-overs weapon Irfan Pathan, which worked wonders for India.
Malik hit it straight to short midwicket, and Afridi departed in the very next delivery. When a crucial partnership was building between Misbah-ul-Haq and Yasir Arafat, Pathan came back and castled the latter.
Pathan was known for his swing, so bowling with the older ball was a challenge for him. But that's what makes a player great, thriving in challenging situations.
His deceptive off-cutters were one of the biggest reasons why the entire India celebrated that day. He registered figures of three for 16 in a World Cup final against Pakistan; personally, I couldn't have asked for anything better as an Indian fan.
2. 5/3 by Rangana Herath vs New Zealand, 2014
As they say, 'Cricket is a game of uncertainty; therefore, a team shouldn't take its victory for granted in any circumstance.
New Zealand had thought chasing run-a-ball 120 would be a cakewalk for them. However, What stood between them and their victory was a short-statured Rangana Herath, who had the heart of a lion.
The wily left-arm offspinner bamboozled the bests in business and ran through New Zealand's batting line-up. His every single delivery posed a new threat to the Blackcaps batters. The ball was gripping, turning nicely and getting the better of the Kiwi batters again and again.
Herath finished with unreal figures of five for three, and the Sri Lankans jumped in joy as New Zealand were bowled out for only 60, their lowest-ever total in a T20 World Cup.
1. Abdul Razzaq 3/20 vs Sri Lanka, 2009
Abdul Razzaq's career was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride. He was Pakistan's premier seam bowling all-rounder at a time but soon found himself out of favour owing to poor form.
But the Men in Green kept believing in his abilities, which paid off handsomely in the 2009 World Cup final.
Opening the bowling alongside Mohammad Amir, Razzaq dismantled the Sri Lankan top order, dismissing the dangerous Sanath Jayasuriya and experienced Jehan Mubarak.
He went a step further and sent the legendary Mahela Jayawardene back to the dugout in the sixth over. Such an astounding effort from Razzaq restricted Sri Lanka to a paltry 138, which Pakistan chased successfully to clinch the title.
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