With batters getting a free to score runs at their whims, bowlers are taking a huge toll. This is becoming common in T20I cricket, where batters overpower bowlers with their willows.
The T20 World Cup has also witnessed bowlers facing the brunt of batters and going for astronomical runs in their spells.
In this article, we’ll look at the top 10 most expensive bowling figures delivered in T20 World Cup history.
Most Expensive Bowling Figures in T20 World Cup
| Player | Bowling Figures (Overs) | Against | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanath Jayasuriya (SL) | 0/64 (4) | Pakistan | Johannesburg | 2007 |
| Mashrafe Mortaza (BAN) | 0/63 (4) | Pakistan | Mirpur | 2014 |
| Lameck Onyango (KENYA) | 0/61 (4) | Sri Lanka | Johannesburg | 2007 |
| Stuart Broad (ENG) | 0/60 (4) | India | Durban | 2007 |
| Mitchell Starc (AUS) | 0/60 (4) | New Zealand | Dubai (DICS) | 2021 |
| Naveen-ul-Haq (AFG) | 0/59 (4) | India | Abu Dhabi | 2021 |
| Barry McCarthy (IRE) | 0/59 (4) | Scotland | Hobart | 2022 |
| Mark Adair (IRE) | 0/59 (4) | Australia | Brisbane | 2022 |
| Nehemiah Odhiambo (KENYA) | 1/57 (4) | Sri Lanka | Johannesburg | 2007 |
| Joginder Sharma (IND) | 0/57 (4) | England | Durban | 2007 |
Key Insights
Sanath Jayasuriya holds the record for delivering the most expensive bowling figures in T20 World Cup history. The Sri Lankan all-rounder conceded 64 runs in his 4-over spell against Pakistan in 2007.
1: Kenya’s Lameck Onyango was the first bowler to leak 60 or more runs in an innings. His bowling figures of 0 for 61 against Sri Lanka remain the worst by a bowler from an associate team.
36 of the 60 runs conceded by Stuart Broad came in a single over. This is the most runs conceded off one over in the T20 World Cup and the Yuvraj Singh mauled Broad for 6 sixes in 6 balls in Durban.
18.66 is the worst bowling economy rate among the bowlers who have leaked 50 or more runs in their spells. Afghanistan’s Izatullah Dawlatzai returned with bowling figures of 2 for 56 in 3 overs against England in 2012.
There is 1 instance of 3 bowlers from a team conceding 50 or more runs in a single innings in the T20 World Cup. Kenya’s Onyango (0/61), Nehemiah Odhiambo (1/57), and Peter Ongondo (0/53) had worse outings against Sri Lanka on September 14, 2007. During the match, Sri Lanka posted 260 runs on the board — the highest team total in the T20 World Cup.
There are 2 instances of bowlers from different teams giving away 50+ runs in a match. The first instance involves South Africa’s Shaun Pollock and the West Indies’ Ravi Rampaul, with both having the same figures of 1 for 52 against each other’s teams. In another instance, Broad went for 60 runs against India, while Joginder Sharma conceded 57 against England.
Ravi Rampaul, Mohammad Sami, and Mitchell Starc are the 3 bowlers who have conceded 50 or more runs in 2 matches.
