This article highlights the most remarkable instances where exceptional bowling performances were overshadowed by team defeats in One Day Internationals.
Best Bowling Figures in Losing Causes in ODIs
| Player | Overs | Bowling Figures | Economy | Innings | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imran Khan (PAK) | 10.0 | 6/14 | 1.4 | 1 | India | Sharjah | 22 Mar 1985 |
| Shane Bond (NZ) | 10.0 | 6/23 | 2.3 | 1 | Australia | Gqeberha | 11 Mar 2003 |
| Mitchell Starc (AUS) | 9.0 | 6/28 | 3.11 | 2 | New Zealand | Auckland | 28 Feb 2015 |
| Zahoor Khan (UAE) | 6.3 | 6/34 | 5.23 | 1 | Ireland | ICCA Dubai | 2 Mar 2017 |
| Shaun Pollock (SA) | 10.0 | 6/35 | 3.5 | 1 | West Indies | East London | 24 Jan 1999 |
| Dale Steyn (SA) | 9.0 | 6/39 | 4.33 | 1 | Pakistan | Gqeberha | 27 Nov 2013 |
| Ajit Agarkar (IND) | 9.3 | 6/42 | 4.42 | 1 | Australia | Melbourne | 9 Jan 2004 |
| Chris Woakes (ENG) | 10.0 | 6/45 | 4.5 | 1 | Australia | Brisbane | 30 Jan 2011 |
| Tony Gray (WI) | 9.0 | 6/50 | 5.55 | 1 | Australia | Port of Spain | 9 Mar 1991 |
| Chris Mpofu (ZIM) | 10.0 | 6/52 | 5.2 | 1 | Kenya | Nairobi (Gym) | 19 Oct 2008 |
| Akila Dananjaya (SL) | 10.0 | 6/54 | 5.4 | 2 | India | Pallekele | 24 Aug 2017 |
| Paul Stirling (IRE) | 10.0 | 6/55 | 5.5 | 1 | Afghanistan | Greater Noida | 17 Mar 2017 |
| Ashish Nehra (IND) | 10.0 | 6/59 | 5.9 | 1 | Sri Lanka | Colombo (RPS) | 9 Aug 2005 |
Key Insights on Exceptional Bowling Performances in ODI Defeats
Record Breaking Individual Bowling Spells in Losing Causes
Pakistan’s Imran Khan has the best bowling figures in an ODI loss. He delivered a spell of 6 for 14 to bowl out India for 125 runs.
Shane Bond’s 6 for 23 against Australia in 2003 is the best bowling figure in a losing cause in the ODI World Cup.
UAE’s Zahoor Khan is the only bowler from an associate nation to pick up a six-wicket haul in a losing cause in ODIs. He had figures of 6 for 34 against Ireland in 2017.
Sri Lanka’s Akila Dananjaya has registered the best bowling figures as a spinner in an ODI loss. He took six wickets for 54 runs against India in the rain-hit 2017 Pallekele ODI.
Ireland’s Paul Stirling is the only other spinner with a six-wicket haul in an ODI defeat, having claimed 6 for 55 against Afghanistan in 2017.
Check: Most Wickets by Spinners in ODI
Best Bowling Debut and Captaincy Records in ODI Losses
Bangladesh’s Taskin Ahmed has the best bowling figures in a losing cause on ODI debut. He fetched five wickets for 28 runs against India in the rain-curtailed 2014 Mirpur ODI.
South Africa’s Allan Donald is the only other debutant to pick up a five-for in an ODI loss, having returned 5 for 29 against India in 1991.
Australia’s Greg Chappell has claimed the best bowling figures as a captain in an ODI loss. He returned 5 for 20 against England in the 1977 Birmingham ODI, which Australia lost by 101 runs.
Career Statistics and Most Expensive Spells in ODI Defeats
Netherlands Bas de Leede has delivered the most expensive spell in an ODI loss. He conceded 115 runs for two wickets in 10 overs against Australia in the 2023 World Cup. This is also the most expensive spell in men’s ODIs.
Chaminda Vaas leads the wickets column in ODI losses, having picked up 166 scalps in 140 defeats for Sri Lanka.
Lasith Malinga has taken the most four-wicket hauls in losing causes in ODIs, with seven spells to his name.
