Top 5 bowling performances of 2024 T20 World Cup ft. Jasprit Bumrah
The T20 World Cup 2024 provided a perfect balance between the bat and the ball. While the pitches in New York, Guyana, and Trinidad were dented in favor of the bowlers, the remaining grounds provided a good contest between the bat and the ball.
Fazalhaq Farooqi and Arshdeep Singh were the joint-highest wicket-takers in the T20 World Cup 2024 picking up 17 wickets apiece. The bowlers had their say in the tournament that was a good advertisement for T20 cricket.
On that note, here is a look at the top five bowling performances of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
#1 Jasprit Bumrah-3/7 vs Afghanistan:
The Man of the Series of the T20 World Cup 2024 was at his miserly best against Afghanistan in Barbados during the group eight encounter between India and Afghanistan. Team India scored 181 for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs courtesy of a brilliant half-century by Suryakumar Yadav.
A target of 182 was always going to be a stiff one for Afghanistan and Jasprit Bumrah added to their misery. The in-form Rahmanullah Gurbaz was his first victim who was caught behind by Rishabh Pant. Hazratullah Zazai followed suit. Najibullah Zadran was his third victim and the Afghans had no answer to Bumrah's deliveries.
The pacer ended with figures of three wickets for seven runs from his four overs including a maiden over.
#2 Anrich Nortje- 4/7 vs Sri Lanka:
South Africa played their first match of their T20 World Cup 2024 against Sri Lanka in New York in conditions favorable to bowlers.
The South African pacer was brilliant on the day and unsettled the Sri Lankan batsmen with his line and length. Kamindu Mendis was his first victim and he followed it up with the wicket of Kusal Mendis.
Charith Asalanka and Angelo Mathews were his remaining victims and he finished with impressive figures of 4-7 from four overs. Sri Lanka were bundled out for a paltry score of 77 and South Africa won the game by six wickets. Nortje was named Man of the Match was his excellent spell with the ball.
#3 Alzarri Joseph- 4/19 vs New Zealand:
Alzarri Joseph had impressive figures of 4/19 against New Zealand in Trinidad which ensured that the Kiwis were knocked out of the T20 World Cup during the group stages itself.
Chasing a target of 150, Joseph was lethal with the ball and picked up four wickets to put New Zealand on the back foot.
Finn Allen, James Neesham, Glenn Philips, and Tim Southee were his victims and the pacer picked wickets at regular intervals to dent New Zealand's progress to the next round.
#4 Rashid Khan- 4/17 vs New Zealand:
The Afghan skipper was at his absolute best against the Kiwis on the night of June 7, 2024 in Guyana.
Batting first, Afghanistan scored 159 runs for the loss of six wickets courtesy of a brilliant attacking innings of 80 runs by Rahmanullah Gurbaz.
Fazalhaq Farooqi removed both the New Zealand openers cheaply before Rashid Khan had the Kiwis in his spinning web. He picked up the wicket of his opposite number Kane Williamson and thereafter clean-bowled Mark Chapman.
Michael Bracewell was dismissed first ball leg before wicket to Khan and the Kiwis were in disarray losing six wickets for just 43 balls. Lockie Ferguson was caught and bowled by the Afghan skipper and the Kiwis were bundled out for just 75 .
Rashid finished with figures of 4-17 and led his team to a maiden win over New Zealand in T20Is.
#5 Arshdeep Singh- 4/9 vs USA:
Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh ended as the joint-highest wicket-taker (17) in the T20 World Cup 2024. His best bowling performance was against USA in New York when he picked up four wickets.
Shyan Jahangir was dismissed on the first ball of the match leg before wicket to Singh. Andries Gous was also dismissed in the first over by Singh and USA were reduced to three for the loss of two wickets in the first over itself.
Nitish Kumar and Harmeet Singh were his remaining two victims and Singh finished with impressive figures of 4/9 from his four overs. The left-handed pacer was named Man of the Match for his brilliant figures.