Top 10 Best Bowling Figures in ODI

Bowling in limited-overs cricket requires skill, accuracy, and adaptability. In modern-day cricket, especially when the game has shifted toward the batters, bowling in the right areas has been important for the bowlers. The ball will be smacked all over the ground if the line and length are imperfect. Despite that, some bowlers have earned a reputation for bowling tight lines and lengths in white-ball cricket. 

Taking wickets while maintaining a tight economy is difficult in limited-overs cricket, which makes record-breaking performances even more impressive. The top ODI bowling figures highlight moments when bowlers dominated their opponents, turning games in their team’s favour. Such performances not only affected the outcome of matches but also set benchmarks for future generations.

In the article, we take a look at the top 10 best bowling figures in ODI 

10. Tim Southee (New Zealand)

Tim Southee is one of the finest bowlers in New Zealand. The former Kiwi captain had been an exceptional new ball bowler in the ODI and Test formats. He would go on to become one of the world’s top new-ball partnerships with Trent Boult. Southee was exceptional in the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cup for the Black Caps and helped them reach the finals for two consecutive editions of the ODI World Cup. He also was a crucial member of New Zealand in the ICC World Test Championship, which won the silverware.

Southee’s best bowling performance in ODI came in the 2015 World Cup against England. He dismantled the English batting lineup by picking up 7 for 33 in his 9 overs. This helped the Kiwi to bundle out for just 123 runs. New Zealand won the match easily by eight wickets and Southee was named the man of the match for his superb display of bowling.

9. Ali Khan (USA)

Ali Khan is a common name in franchise cricket. The Pakistan-born speedster moved to the USA. He featured in various private T20 cricket tournaments around the USA. Khan’s pace and yorkers caught the eye of Courtney Walsh, and since then his life changed he made his debut for the USA side in 2016 and ICC WCL Division Four in Los Angeles.

Ali Khan’s best bowling figures in ODI came in 2023 against Jersey. He picked up 7 for 32 runs, and his sensational bowling display helped his side to win the match marking a significant achievement for USA cricket on the international stage.

Also Read: Top 10 Batters with Most Centuries in ODIs

8. Muttiah Muralidaran (Sri Lanka)

Muttiah Muralidaran is the finest spinner of all time. The Sri Lankan offspinner is the highest wicket-taker of all time in the red ball format. He has picked 800 wickets in the longest format of the game. He played for 18 years for the side and won the World Cup in 1996 for the side as well. Murali was lethal for his doosra in limited-overs cricket as well.

He has featured in 350 ODIs for the Lankan Lions and picked up 534 wickets in the format. Murali’s best bowling spell in ODI cricket came against India. He picked up 7 wickets giving out just 30 runs. Thus for his exceptional bowling figures, he was adjudged as the player of the match.

7. Charlie Cassell (Scotland)

Charlie Cassell is arguably Scotland’s best fast bowler of this era. He made his debut back in 2024 and had the best bowling figures in the debut match of his ODI career. The bowler picked up 7/21 in his first game which is also the 7th-best bowling figure in ODI cricket. His exceptional bowling display helped the Scottish national team to bowl Oman out just for 91 runs and chase down the total with 8 wickets in hand.

6. Andy Bichel (Australia)

Andy Bichel was a bowling all-rounder for Australia, who would eventually disappear after 2003-2004. It was shocking for a performer like him to retire from the international circuit. Known for his excellent seam bowling he was one of the stars for Australia in the 2003 ODI World Cup. Bichel was a lower-order batter with hard-hitting skills.

Bichel’s bowling spell against England in the ICC World Cup 2003 group stage match is still one of the finest in the ICC major tournament. He rattled the English batting lineup with his fiery spell of 7/20 and also went 34* in the game to win the match for the side. Thus was adjudged as the player for the match for his exceptional bowling and decent batting in the match.

5. Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)

Wanindu Hasaranga has been one of the finest leg-spinners of this era. The Sri Lankan made history when he took the first ever hat-trick for Sri Lanka in a T20 World Cup. He also was the first Sri Lankan to take a hat-trick on an ODI debut. Hasaranga has also been a brilliant lower-order batter for the side and plays aggressive shots.

Hasranga captained the T20I side in the 2024 T20 World Cup, but he soon stepped down after the major tournament. However, in ODI he still has the best bowling figures by a Sri Lankan spinner and second best as a Sri Lanka bowler in the 50-over format of the game. He picked up 7/19 in just 5.5 overs against Zimbabwe in 2024.

4. Rashid Khan (Afghanistan)

Rashid Khan is the most lovable and famous Afghanistan player of all time. The wrist spinner has a huge fan following across the world. He has been an icon in limited-overs cricket for the Afghan side and franchise teams. Rashid has also been a solid striker of the ball in the lower order for the side. He was crucial for leading the team in the ICC Champions Trophy and also helped the country to qualify for the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2024.

He has the best bowling figures in ODI by an Afghan bowler. Rashid has a figure of 7/18 in his 8.4 overs against West Indies back in 2017. He left the Windies batters clueless with his spin bowling and successfully defended a low score of 213 runs.

3. Glenn McGrath (Australia)

Glenn McGrath is arguably the best pacer in world cricket history. Known for his accurate line and length, he has been a match-winner for Australia in the ODI and Test format of the game. McGrath helped Australia win three world cups bowling superbly in the final of each of the competitions. He is currently the highest wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup history. He has 71 wickets to his name.

McGrath’s best bowling figures came against Nambia in the ODI World Cup 2003. He picked up 7/15 for the Kangaroos bowling Nambia out for just 45 runs and winning the game by a margin of 256 runs. He was man of the match for his bowling excellence.

2. Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)

Shahid Afridi has been one of the all-rounders for Pakistan. The former Pakistan skipper was known for his explosive finishing ability and huge hits. Afridi tops the list for most sixes in ODI cricket by any batter in world cricket. He was not only an excellent finisher but also a sensational legspinner. He was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the 2011 ODI World Cup.

Afridi has numerous batting records to his name. But he has some bowling records in ODI as well. He showcased his prowess with the ball against the West Indies, where he picked up 7/12 and is the best bowling figures in ODI by a Pakistan bowler. It is also the second-best bowling figures in ODI cricket.

Also Read: Top 10 Cricketers With Fastest Fifties in ODI

1. Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka)

Chaminda Vaas has been one of the finest left-arm seamers of his era. He was the most penetrative and successful new-ball bowler Sri Lanka have had. In the 2003 World Cup, he also scored a hat-trick off the first three balls against Bangladesh. Vaas has been an exceptional seamer for the Lankan Lions and helped them win matches single-handedly.

Vaas has the best bowling figures in ODI cricket. He picked up 8/19 in the game against Zimbabwe. This also included a hat trick. His bowling dismantled the Zimbabwe batting lineup, and they could not go past 50 runs in the 50-over format. They were bowled out for just 38 runs.

List of Bowlers with Best Bowling Figures in ODI

Player	Team	Overs	Maiden	Best	Economy	Against	Year
Chaminda Vaas	Sri Lanka	8	3	8/19	2.37	Zimbabwe	2001
Shahid Afridi	Pakistan	9	3	7/12	1.33	West Indies	2013
Glenn McGrath	Australia	7	4	7/15	2.14	Namibia	2003
Rashid Khan	Afghanistan	8.4	1	7/18	2.07	West Indies	2017
Wanindu Hasaranga	Sri Lanka	5.5	1	7/19	3.25	Zimbabwe	2024
Andy Bichel	Australia	10	0	7/20	2	England	2003
Charlie Cassell	Scotland	5.4	1	7/21	3.7	Oman	2024
Muttiah Muralidaran	Sri Lanka	10	1	7/30	3	India	2000
Ali Khan	USA	9.4	0	7/32	3.31	Jersey	2023
Tim Southee	New Zealand	9	0	7/33	3.66	England	2015