5 most economical 4-over T20 spells Mohammad Irfan went past 

Pakistan’s fast bowling sensation Mohammad Irfan took the cricketing world by storm after he broke the world record for the most economical spell. His four over spell also had the highest number of dot balls (23). In the Caribbean Premier League, playing for the Barbados Tridents, Irfan produced this gem of a bowling performance against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

The left arm pacer bowled three maiden overs, conceded just a single run and picked up two wickets. Irfan’s economy was an unprecedented 0.25 runs an over- a record that might stay for a long time to come. He bowled 23 dot balls, which is a record in itself.

To add to his credit, his wickets included Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis- two of oppositions best domestic batsmen. His 24th delivery of his 24 ball spell went for the lone run.

However, despite his stupendous performance, he ended up on the losing side. This has to be one of the best T20 performances to end up on a losing side.

Here are five players whose record Irfan broke in the process of his most economical spell in T20 Cricket.

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#1 Chris Morris (2/2 against Cape Cobras)

Morris during his 2/2 spell

South Africa’s Chris Morris bowled a similar spell in the domestic Ram Slam T20 league. Playing for the Lions, Morris bowled three maiden overs. However, he had conceded two runs and had two wickets to his name. His victims were the Cape Cobras opener Richard Levi and the lower middle order batsman George Linde.

The South African's economy of 0.5 runs an over was a world record at that point of time.

#2 Chanaka Welegedara (4/2 against Tamil Union)

Welegedera picked up four wickets in his spell

Sri Lanka’s Chanaka Welegedera was as effective as the other two bowlers. In a fierce spell of bowling, playing for the Tamil Union, Welegedara affected two maiden overs while conceding one run each in the other two overs. However, he managed to pick up as many as four wickets in this game in 2015, two more than Morris.

The Sri Lankan bowled at an economy of 0.5 and equaled the record set by Morris for the most economical four over spell in T20 Cricket, although unarguably in a much weaker tournament.

#3 Sohail Tanvir (5/3 against Barbados Tridents)

Tanvir was at his lethal best in this spell

Pakistani left arm pacer, Sohail Tanvir, also makes this list. Tanvir, while playing for the franchise Guyana Amazon Warriors, ripped apart the Barbados Tridents batting line up. In his spell of four overs, Tanvir bowled a maiden over, gave away just three runs, and dismissed half of the opposition batters. As a result, the Barbados Tridents were bowled out for just 58 runs.

Man of the Match Tanvir, had an economy rate of 0.75 runs per over in his five wicket spell.

#4 Nishan Peiris (4/3 against Kalutara Town Club)

Peiris picked up four wickets for just three runs

The 21-year old cricketer from Sri Lanka made headlines earlier this year. In January 2018, the youngster bowled one of the best four over spells in T20 Cricket while playing for the Ragama Cricket Club.

In this spell, Peiris picked up four wickets for just three runs and made life hell for the Kalutara Town Club batsmen. Nishan's spell helped him equal Tanvir's economy of 0.75 runs an over. However, Nishan had a wicket less in his tally and stage was not as grand as the Caribbean Premier League.

#1 Mitchell Johnson (3/3 against Melbourne Stars)

Johnson destroyed Melbourne's plan of winning the title

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Australia's Mitchell Johnson delivered for the Perth Scorchers on the big occasion the Big Bash semi-finals.

Johnson conceded just three runs in his quota of four overs and picked up three crucial wickets, breaking the backbone of the Melbourne batting line up. This was the fifth defeat for the Melbourne Stars in six finals and Johnson was the chief conspirator.

His overs included a double wicket maiden, and given the platform in which this spell was produced in a must win game, under huge pressure, Johnson was rightly adjudged the Player of the Match.