Ali Dawood stuns Bhutan; claims second-best figures in men's T20I history

Prachi Rajan

Best figures in men's T20I (Source: AFP & X.com: @realfp11)Best figures in men's T20I (Source: AFP & X.com: @realfp11)

The modern-day cricket revolves around the batting aspect of the game, with batters hitting bowlers all around the park as if no tomorrow. Nonetheless, some bowlers have found a way to counterattack, adapting their bowling style according to the demand. 

One such example is Bahrain's 33-year-old pacer Ali Dawood. On December 12, 2025, he recorded the second-best figures in men's T20Is against Bhutan, taking 7/19, becoming only the second bowler to take seven wickets in the shortest format of the game. In the T20 World Cup Asia B Qualifier, Dawood dismantled the Chinese batting to attain the record.

Let's take a look at the list of the best bowling figures in men's T20Is. 

5) Deepak Chahar - 6/7 vs Bangladesh, 2019

When Deepak Chahar speared in a yorker to dismiss Aminul Islam, he, in one go, became the first Indian man to complete a T20I hat-trick. Fifth in the list, India pacer Deepak Chahar recorded the figures of 6 for 7 against Bangladesh on November 10, 2019. Till 2021, Chahar remained only the third bowler to pick up six wickets in an innings in men's T20Is. 

4) Peter Aho - 6/5 vs Sierra Leone, 2021

The 5th T20I played between Nigeria and Sierra Leone on October 24 2021, saw history in the making. Nigeria's Peter Aho took six wickets for just five runs, the fourth-best bowling figures in a T20I, helping Nigeria secure the fifth and final T20I by 36 runs, taking the series 4–1.

3) Harsha Bharadwaj - 6/3 vs Mongolia, 2024

Singapore's Harsha Bharadwaj in the 14th Match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier A on September 05, 2024, took 6 for 3 in four overs, the third-best figures in a men's T20I. The 17-year-old legspinner struck twice in the opening over and picked up five of the six wickets Mongolia lost inside the powerplay. Courtesy of Bharadwaj's 6-fer, Mongolia collapsed for 10 all-out, equalling the lowest score in a men's T20I. 

2) Ali Dawood - 7/19 vs Bhutan, 2025

In the third game of the five-match T20I series against Bhutan, Ali Dawood recorded the second-best figures in men’s T20I cricket, with his remarkable spell of 7/19 becoming only the second instance of a bowler taking seven wickets in the shortest format of the game.

Bahrain set a total of 161 after batting first. Dawood began his spell in the third over of the innings and immediately made an impact, picking up two crucial wickets to leave Bhutan reeling at 11/3.

1) Syazrul Ezat Idrus - 7/8 vs China, 2023

Topping the list, Syazrul Idrus became the first man to take a seven-for in T20Is. Notably, the Malaysian seamer's 7 for 8 against China in the T20 World Cup Asia B Qualifier are also the best figures in all T20 cricket. The previous record belonged to Colin Ackermann, who picked up 7 for 18 for Leicestershire against Birmingham Bears in the 2019 Vitality Blast.