Top 5: The World Cup's best bowling performances

Published February 25, 2015
Sohail Khan celebrates a wicket during the World Cup Pool B match against India in Adelaide. — AP
Sohail Khan celebrates a wicket during the World Cup Pool B match against India in Adelaide. — AP

With ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 already a third of the way through, we have seen some huge totals piled up on batting friendly wickets.

But the batsmen haven’t had it all their own way, with some bowlers thriving in the conditions Down Under.

Here are the top five bowling performances so far at World Cup 2015:

Tim Southee 7-33: New Zealand vs England

Tim Southee (C-L) celebrates with teammates after dismissing England's batsman Ian Bell during the World Cup match between England and New Zealand. — AFP
Tim Southee (C-L) celebrates with teammates after dismissing England's batsman Ian Bell during the World Cup match between England and New Zealand. — AFP

In a blockbuster encounter at the Westpac Stadium, it was Tim Southee’s star that shone the brightest with one of the finest displays of swing bowling seen in World Cup history.

After bowling both opening batsmen with unplayable deliveries, Southee looked like he could take a wicket with every ball. He ended up picking up five more and with one over up his sleeve, could have had a Cricket World Cup record eight wickets if it wasn’t for Adam Milne ending the innings.

Jerome Taylor 3-15: West Indies vs Pakistan

Jerome Taylor and captain Jason Holder took four wickets between them with only one run on the board. — AFP
Jerome Taylor and captain Jason Holder took four wickets between them with only one run on the board. — AFP

In a fearsome fast bowling assault reminiscent of the devastating West Indies pace attack of the 1970s and 1980s, Jerome Taylor tore through the Pakistan top order to leave them with the worst start in ODI history – one run for four wickets! He bowled with pace, aggression and produced significant bounce on a pitch which the Pakistan bowlers struggled to penetrate.

Hammid Hasan 3-45: Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka

Hammid Hasan. — ICC
Hammid Hasan. — ICC

With war-paint and a head band, left arm quick Hammid Hasan looked the part – but could he act it?

He proved he could against Sri Lanka with an energetic display which almost yielded a famous win for Afghanistan.

He started with a big one, slipping right through the defence of Kumar Sangakkara before edging out Dimuth Karunaratne.

With the match almost out of reach, Hasan returned to pick up the prize scalp of Mahela Jayawardene.

Mitchell Marsh 5-33: Australia vs England

Mitchell Marsh celebrates the wicket of England's Ian Bell during the World Cup match between Australia and England at MCG. — AFP
Mitchell Marsh celebrates the wicket of England's Ian Bell during the World Cup match between Australia and England at MCG. — AFP

Chasing 340 to win, England made a positive start until Mitchell Marsh came into bowl and ripped the heart out if its top order.

Bowling in great areas and with decent pace, Marsh kept building pressure until the inevitable mistake came and he cashed in.

In the end he had sent five England batsmen packing, and the opening match went to Australia.

Sohail Khan 5-55: India vs Pakistan

Sohail Khan falls to his knees upon the dismissal of India's batsman Ajinkya Rahane during the World Cup match between India and Pakistan in Adelaide. — Reuters
Sohail Khan falls to his knees upon the dismissal of India's batsman Ajinkya Rahane during the World Cup match between India and Pakistan in Adelaide. — Reuters

Sohail Khan, playing his first international since September 2011, bowled a brilliant spell in the death overs of the much-anticipated Pakistan-India clash.

In his 5-55, Sohail not only picked up centurion Virat Kohli, but also hard-hitting batsman Suresh Raina and Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Sohail's magic spell helped Pakistan restricting India to 300, but a poor show with the bat by cost Misbah-ul-Haq's side the match by 76 runs.

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