5 instances when part-time bowlers demolished batting line-ups
Dean Elgar’s four wicket haul restricted India within 201 runsPart-time bowlers do not always get the recognition that they deserve. They are the ones that the captain goes to when he wants to rest his specialist bowlers or just wants to while away a few overs without leaking too much runs. However, more than once, part-timers have impacted matches and completely changed the game.Today’s match between India and South Africa is a perfect example. While the Indian batting line-up was preparing to face the express pace and swing of Steyn and Rabada, Dean Elgar ran through the famed Indian batting line-up. A part-time bowler who actually opened the batting for South Africa claimed four wickets for 22 runs, his career best figures.Elgar’s spin bowling reduced India to only 201 runs. Here is a list of five part-time bowlers who produced very special spells.
#1 Sourav Ganguly - 5/16 against Pakistan
The Sahara Cup was a friendship series played between arch rivals India and Pakistan for three years. It was during its second edition that Sourav Ganguly’s all-round performances stood out and helped India win the series 4-1.
Sachin Tendulkar was the captain during the series and he gave the ball to Ganguly on a pitch that had made batting quite difficult. On September 18, 1997, Sourav Ganguly hogged the limelight not for his delightful shots through the off-side, but for his bowling heroics at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club. He single-handedly won the match for India with his medium pace coupled with a little movement off the deck to which the Pakistan batsmen had no answers.
India had scored only 182 runs, which Pakistan began to chase quite aggressively. Ganguly came in the 19th over when Pakistan was smoothly sailing towards victory and completely turned the game on its head. Ganguly finished his spell: 10-3-16-5 and was also the Man of the Match.