Flashback 2020: Five best bowling performances of the year
In the limited number of International matches in 2020, a lot of bowlers stepped up with their career-best performances. Some went on to create records while some achieved rare milestones throughout the year. However, only a few performances with the ball stood out which was the reason behind some of the lowest totals in history. Some players went further to record some sensational performances with the ball in unfamiliar support conditions.
Here we look at the top five bowling performances in International cricket in 2020:
Jasprit Bumrah 4-1-12-3 vs New Zealand, Mount Maunganui T20I:
India aimed a T20I series whitewash against New Zealand after winning the first four games. Indian skipper Virat Kohli was rested for this match while the stand-in captain Rohit Sharma scored a 41-ball 60 before retiring hurt. India could only make 163/3 in their 20 overs and KL Rahul donned the captaincy hat in the second innings. Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Martin Guptill in his very first over and returned to bowl some economical stuff at the death. He finished with analyses of 4-1-12-3 as India won the game by 7 runs and Bumrah was named as player of the match.
Josh Hazlewood 5-3-8-5 (2nd innings) vs India, Adelaide Test:
Josh Hazlewood was sensational with 5-8 on day three in Adelaide but one thing eluded him … and he’s not happy about it @alintaenergy | #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/QCvOPSiUYK
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 19, 2020
Josh Hazlewood bowled a dream spell to bundle India out for just 36 runs. It was the lowest total in the history of Indian Test cricket which resulted in Australia’s comeback after conceding the first-innings lead. Hazlewood claimed the middle and lower-order batsmen with some tight bowling outside off stump. His line and length was awarded with a 5-wicket haul despite him bowling only five overs. Pat Cummins accounted for the rest of four wickets to fall in Indian innings.
Stuart Broad 22.1-5-67-10 vs West Indies, Manchester Test:
In the series decider against West Indies, Stuart Broad stepped up for the home team not just with the ball but also with the bat. He scored quick 45-ball 62 while batting at No.10 to push England’s total to 369. Broad, who was dropped earlier in the series, bowled with fire and bagged a 6-wicket haul conceding just 31 runs in the first innings. Later in the 2nd essay, Broad bagged a 4-wicket haul to see England through to a series win amidst the threat of rain. Broad also completed 500 wickets in Test cricket during this match.
Sandeep Lamichhane 6-1-16-6 vs USA, Kirtipur ODI:
Sandeep Lamichhane created history with the ball during the CWC League 2 match against the United States of America in front of his home crowd. After electing to bowl first, Lamichhane opened the bowling for Nepal and began his hunt in the very first over. He bowled six overs on trot only to end up with figures of 6/16 as the USA team got bowled out for just 35 runs in only 12 overs. At a stage, they were 23/1 after six overs but lost nine wickets for 12 runs in 36 deliveries.
David Willey 8.4-2-30-5 vs Ireland, Southampton ODI:
England bowl Ireland out for 172!
David Willey ends with career-best figures of 5-30 ??#ENGvIRE pic.twitter.com/GK4uuuwi9u
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 30, 2020
In the first-ever ODI game after the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ireland team took on England in the first ODI series of the ODI Super League for CWC 2023. Southampton hosted this series and in the first match, the Irish got bowled out for 172 while batting first. David Willey was responsible for Ireland’s poor batting show as the left-arm pacer ran through the visiting team’s top-order. At one stage, Ireland were 28/5 in 6.3 overs with Willey picking up four wickets alone.
