Sportziwiki’s Year Review – Top 5 T20I Bowling Performances Of 2016

Dec 23, 2016 at 3:05 PM

facebook iconlinkedin iconmail icontwitter iconWhatsApp iconTelegram icon
Sportziwiki’s Year Review – Top 5 T20I Bowling Performances Of 2016

The enterprising cricketers have produced some incredible performances in the shorter version of the game. The Twenty20 World Cup saw some moments of brilliance this year from young players like Carlos Brathwaite and Mitchell Santner, when their team needed it the most.

T20 cricket is usually not remembered for bowlers whether spinner or a fast-bowler as this shorter version has given some loin’s share to batters out in the middle, but bowlers too had their moments of pride to entertain the crowds at the jam-packed stadiums, before going gaga over their unique way of celebration.

Take a note, perfect adjectives make meaningful and equally beautiful sentences to describe the scene in cricket and then it’s followed by the splendid bowling spells in Twenty20 cricket, which makes perfect headlines on the frontpage and even memorable paragraphs to steal the show, before finding a mention into the record books. Isn’t it incredible to say the least?

Here is the list of five best Twenty20 bowling performance for 2016 from the miserly spells to a last-ball thriller.

No. 5: Mustafizur Rahman’s five wickets against New Zealand at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata in World T20 game:

The Fizz thing in cricket.

The 21-year-old Mustafizur Rahman bowled an exceptional opening spell to have New Zealand in a spot of bother. The ‘Fizz’ came at the end of innings to restrict New Zealand to a tally of 145.

Though in the losing cause, the wily lean customer bowled with immaculate line and length to outfox Kiwis batsman followed by slower, fast off-cutters. He was unplayable on the day.

On 26 March, 2016, in the T20 World Cup of Super 10 Group 2 match, Mustafizur picked up five wickets after conceding 22 runs at an economy of 5.50.

While chasing down the target of 146, Bangladesh were bundled out for 70 in 15.4 overs.

No. 4: James Faulkner‘s 5 for 27 against Pakistan in Mohali in World T20 2016:

Handy with both bat and ball.

Pakistan were made to pay for their mistakes as Australian all-rounder James Faulkner ripped the heart out of the batting line-up to see his side register yet another win in the World T20 competition.

Faulkner, who mixed his deliveries well and deceived the batsmen with variations at will, ended the dangerous partnership between Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif and then came back at the end to restrict the Pakistan side to 172 to hand his team a 21-run win.

The 26-year-old was adjudged Man of the Match for his splendid figures of 5 for 27 at an economy of 6.75

No. 3: Ravichandran Ashwin’s 4 for 8 against Sri Lanka at Vishakhapatnam:

Ravichandran Ashwin: The spin web

In a three-match Twenty20 series that was tied at 1-1, India’s most valued player across all formats Ravichandran Ashwin came to the party for the national side as he ripped apart the top-order to see the Lankan tigers bundle out for just 82 runs at Vizag.

It was a sensational combination of great bowling with subtle variations to play some tricks with Sri Lankan batsman who are considered to be good players of spin blowing.

On February 14, 2016, Ashwin picked four wickets for just eight runs at an economy of just 2.

The 30-year-old spin sensation not only got the Man of the Match award, but was also named the Man of the Series for his brilliant bowling in the series.

No. 2: Imad Wasim’s five wickets against the West Indies at Dubai:

It was a one man show from Imad Wasim in Dubai against the West Indies on a featherbed.

Earlier, it was considered to be a tough Twenty20 series for Pakistan at adopted home, but Imad Wasim spun has golden-arm to flummox the West Indies batsmen known to play some hard-hitting cricket in T20s.

The 28-year-old kept taking key wickets and that meant the West Indies were never quite able to make big total on a placid surface like Dubai.

Imad, with his bag of tricks, made sure that the Calypso Kings were not able to dominate the proceedings given their memorable World Cup T20 triumph in India earlier in the year.

On 23 September, 2016, the 28-year-old left-arm spinner bagged five wickets at an economy of 3.50, giving away just 14 runs.

No. 1: Hardik Pandya’s final over vs Bangladesh in World T20 2016:

Jubilant Hardik Pandya in action

You might call it an ugliest choice, but this is the one that made the cut above all in this list of five which was a cliffhanger, when millions back home had their chests pounding to witness that miracles can happen in cricket too.

Once there was a tag attached to Bangladesh (of minnows) which they shredded at pace following performance after performances. Bangladesh team did all things right in the game against India, but faltered in the mega event when it mattered the most.

After receiving a beating at the hands of Pakistan in the previous game, Bangladesh bowled well and in chase and looked set to win the game comfortably, but medium pacer Hardik Pandya had other ideas as Mahendra Singh Dhoni entrusted him to bowl the final over of the innings which later on was stated as an ‘out-of-the-box’ idea.

His tactic proved to be a masterstroke as Pandya was called upon to defend ten runs in the last over. More like a wild-card entry at the big stage.

The first three balls cost nine runs as Mushfiqur Rahim smoked two superb boundaries to see silence around the stands.

Following the emotions and drama, the next three balls saw moments of brilliance from Pandya due to a pathetic shot selection and the lack of presence of mind from Bangladesh batsmen.

The 23-year-old promising all-rounder went on to take two wickets on consecutive deliveries and then gloveman MS Dhoni sprinted towards the stumps to take the last wicket (run-out) to see India snatch a win from possible defeat against the Bengal Tigers.

In the ICC World T20 2016 Super 10 game at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium,  Bengaluru, Bangladesh lost the nail-biter by one-run. Pandya bagged two crucial wickets in four overs after conceding 29 runs.

Related Article
Shadab Khan named captain of Team of PSL 9
Shadab Khan named captain of Team of PSL 9

Mar 20, 2024, 10:54 AM


PSL 2024: Islamabad United crowned champions of PSL 9 after thrilling win over Multan Sultans
PSL 2024: Islamabad United crowned champions of PSL 9 after thrilling win over Multan Sultans

Mar 19, 2024, 10:16 AM


PSL 2024: Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 5 wickets to face Multan Sultans in PSL 9 final
PSL 2024: Islamabad United beat Peshawar Zalmi by 5 wickets to face Multan Sultans in PSL 9 final

Mar 17, 2024, 11:08 AM


PSL 2024: Imad Wasim’s late blitz helps Islamabad United to win thriller against Multan Sultans to qualify for playoffs
PSL 2024: Imad Wasim’s late blitz helps Islamabad United to win thriller against Multan Sultans to qualify for playoffs

Mar 10, 2024, 9:35 PM


If You Want To Change The Opening Stand, Give Them A Fair Run – Imad Wasim Shares His Verdict On Pakistan’s New Opening Pair
If You Want To Change The Opening Stand, Give Them A Fair Run – Imad Wasim Shares His Verdict On Pakistan’s New Opening Pair

Feb 2, 2024, 2:27 PM


Pakistan All-Rounder Imad Wasim Signs For Melbourne Stars For Big Bash League 2023
Pakistan All-Rounder Imad Wasim Signs For Melbourne Stars For Big Bash League 2023

Nov 30, 2023, 1:00 PM


Desktop Banner
Mobile Banner