Top 5 bowling performances of the 2011 World Cup

Zaheer Khan was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the 2011 World Cup
Zaheer Khan was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the 2011 World Cup

#3 Zaheer Khan (3/64 vs England, 2011 World Cup group stage)

Zaheer Khan turned India's 2011 World Cup clash against England on its head
Zaheer Khan turned India's 2011 World Cup clash against England on its head

The famous tie between India and England in the 2011 World Cup saw Andrew Strauss walk away with the Man of the Match award for his 158.

But an equally important contribution to the match ending all square came from Zaheer Khan. With England comfortably placed at 281-2 after a 170-run partnership between Strauss and Bell, the left-armer provided twin breakthroughs in the 43rd over.

Zaheer had Bell caught by Kohli before trapping the England captain in front with a deadly yorker. He then deceived Paul Collingwood, castling him in the 45th over and setting England back significantly in the run chase. Eventually, the visitors lost the advantage in a game they were comfortably in control of.


#2 Dale Steyn (5/50 vs India, 2011 World Cup group stage)

Dale Steyn handed India their only loss of the 2011 World Cup [PC: Getty Images]
Dale Steyn handed India their only loss of the 2011 World Cup [PC: Getty Images]

Incredibly, Dale Steyn always seems to up his game in the subcontinent. A prime example of this was his stellar spell in South Africa's 2011 World Cup clash against India in Nagpur.

Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir got India off to a dream start, and the hosts were at 268/2 after 40 overs. Steyn hadn't had much success till then, but he completely changed the complexion of the game in the final leg of the Indian innings.

He sent back Gambhir and Yusuf Pathan before wrapping up the tail to bowl India out for just 296. Robin Peterson's last-over heroics helped the Proteas hand India their only loss of the 2011 World Cup, and Steyn was rightfully declared the Man of the Match.


#1 Wahab Riaz (5/46 vs India, 2011 World Cup semi-final)

Wahab Riaz ran through the Indian middle order in the 2011 World Cup semi-final
Wahab Riaz ran through the Indian middle order in the 2011 World Cup semi-final

Another star performer in the bowling department from the 2011 World Cup semi-final clash between India and Pakistan, Wahab Riaz scalped a 5-fer to significantly dent the Indian charge.

Riaz provided the first breakthrough in the 6th over by trapping the marauding Virender Sehwag in front. After Gautam Gambhir helped India steady the ship alongside Sachin Tendulkar, the left-armer sent Virat Kohli back to the hut for just 9.

Off the very next delivery, Riaz castled the in-form Yuvraj Singh with a brilliant swinging ball, before getting Indian captain MS Dhoni out LBW. He rounded off his brilliant performance with the wicket of Zaheer Khan, and shaved at least 30 runs off the Indian total.

Although Pakistan fell short in the contest, Riaz's dream spell was one of the best - if not the best - performances of the 2011 World Cup.

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