Limited-overs cricket has been more or less dominated by the batters. However, there are some bowlers who have proved this wrong on many occasions by producing extraordinary bowling performances.
And sometimes they have done so on a grander stage, like the ICC Cricket World Cup. Some of the best bowlers have completely wreaked havoc and dismantled the batting line of the opposition.
One such incident is from the 2003 edition, where Glenn McGrath produced the best bowling performance by grabbing 7 wickets.
Now, let’s take a look at the top 10 best bowling figures in the ODI World Cup.
Best Bowling Figures in ODI World Cup
| Player | Overs | Maidens | BBI | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenn McGrath (AUS) | 7.0 | 4 | 7/15 | Namibia | Potchefstroom | 27 Feb 2003 |
| Andy Bichel (AUS) | 10.0 | – | 7/20 | England | Gqeberha | 02 Mar 2003 |
| Tim Southee (NZ) | 9.0 | – | 7/33 | England | Wellington | 20 Feb 2015 |
| Winston Davis (WI) | 10.3 | – | 7/51 | Australia | Leeds | 11 Jun 1983 |
| Mohammed Shami (IND) | 9.5 | – | 7/57 | New Zealand | Mumbai | 15 Nov 2023 |
| Gary Gilmour (AUS) | 12.0 | 6 | 6/14 | England | Leeds | 18 Jun 1975 |
| Ashish Nehra (IND) | 10.0 | 2 | 6/23 | England | Durban | 26 Feb 2003 |
| Shane Bond (NZ) | 10.0 | 2 | 6/23 | Australia | Gqeberha | 11 Mar 2003 |
| Chaminda Vaas (SL) | 9.1 | 2 | 6/25 | Bangladesh | Pietermaritzburg | 14 Feb 2003 |
| Kemar Roach (WI) | 8.3 | – | 6/27 | Netherlands | Delhi | 28 Feb 2011 |
Also Read | Top 10: Most Wickets in a Single ODI World Cup
Key Stats
7/15: This is the best bowling figure ever achieved in this tournament’s glorified history. The legendary Australian bowler Glenn McGrath ran through the Namibian side, scalping 7 wickets for 15 runs in the 2003 Cricket World Cup.
12: The 2003 edition also witnessed over 12 five-wicket hauls — the most in any World Cup edition.
60: More than 60 five-wicket hauls have been registered in this prestigious tournament.
1: Australia’s Mitchell Starc is the only bowler with 3 five-wicket hauls. His first 5-fer came against New Zealand in the 2015 edition, while the other two came against the West Indies and New Zealand, respectively, in the 2019 edition.
13: More than 13 Australian bowlers have picked up at least 1 five-wicket haul in the ODI World Cup. This tells you that Australia has possessed a potent bowling attack over the last few decades.
