5 best ODI spells by Associate country bowlers

On 22nd June of 2017, the International Cricket Council welcomed Afghanistan and Ireland into the Test arena. The two developing teams joined the ten traditional sides in ICC's list of Full Members.

It will be a travesty that the 2019 World Cup will not feature Zimbabwe and Ireland. The ten-team edition will witness the first instance of not one but two Full Members missing from the game's premier tournament.

Aside from South Africa's Apartheid-enforced suspension during the first four editions, the World Cup has not evoked such blatant prejudice. Considering such debilitating circumstances, the plight of Associate teams appears even worse. The non-Full Members have also provided us with numerous memorable moments in ODI history.

Extra Cover: 5 best knocks by Associate country batsmen

In this segment, let us pay homage to the five best ODI spells delivered by bowlers belonging to teams with Associate memberships at that point in time. Not surprisingly, all but one of the five most impactful spells have come in various editions of the World Cup.

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#5 Andre Botha - 2/5 from 8 overs against Pakistan at Jamaica (2007)

Andre Botha's remarkably parsimonious spell helped Ireland stifle Pakistan to a paltry total

The 2007 edition of the World Cup would turn out to have massive ramifications on the game's ensuing nature. The flagship tournament included as many as 16 teams divided into four groups. Asian powerhouses India and Pakistan failed to progress past their respective groups. Since then, the custodians of the game have unabashedly conspired to prevent such 'upsets' by altering the format.

Pakistan had begun their campaign with a 54-run defeat to hosts West Indies. With the game between Ireland and Zimbabwe ending in a tie, the former appeared considerably buoyant whilst heading into the next clash. On a green-tinged track under murky clouds, Ireland won a vital toss and decided to bowl first. What followed was scarcely believable as Pakistan were shot out for a mere 132 runs from 45.4 overs.

Medium pacer Andre Botha produced one of the most astonishing bowling performances ever seen in ODIs. He sent down eight overs and conceded just five runs. Aside from bowling four maiden overs, the right-armer also had Imran Nazir and skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq edging fuller deliveries to first slip. The parsimonious spell, which set up a famous Irish victory, remains the joint-third most (minimum of five overs) economical effort in World Cup history.

#4 Alex Cusack - 4/32 against Zimbabwe at Hobart (2015)

Alex Cusack's relentless effort procured a thrilling victory for Ireland

Following their enthralling tied encounter in the 2007 edition, Ireland and Zimbabwe gave another World Cup contest to remember during the 2015 edition. The setting was a flat surface at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart. Riding on Ed Joyce's century and Andy Balbirnie's attacking 97, Ireland amassed 331.

The Irish seamers made optimum use of the new ball and scythed through Zimbabwe's top-order. At 41/3, the run-chase threatened to get over even before it could hit full swing. Captain Brendan Taylor joined hands with Sean Williams to revive the innings. Their remarkable partnership reduced the equation to 110 from 78 balls.

Seamer Alex Cusack, who had removed opener Chamu Chibhabha in his first spell, returned to provide Ireland with a priceless breakthrough. His well-disguised slower delivery accounted for the scalp of centurion Taylor. Asked to defend seven runs from the final over, Cusack's assortment of cutters dismissed Regis Chakabva and the hard-hitting Tawanda Mupariwa. Ireland sneaked home by just five runs.

#3 Duncan Fletcher - 4/42 against Australia at Trent Bridge (1983)

Duncan Fletcher picked up Australia's top four in Zimbabwe's famous triumph

Eight teams participated in the 1983 World Cup. Having qualified by virtue of winning the 1982 ICC Trophy, Zimbabwe debuted at the big stage. Their first game in the tournament was nothing short of awe-inspiring. The inexperienced outfit managed to shock an Australian lineup containing the likes of Kepler Wessels, Kim Hughes, Allan Border, Rod Marsh, Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson.

After being sent into bat at Trent Bridge, Zimbabwe relied on skipper Duncan Fletcher unbeaten 84-ball 69 to register a competitive total of 239 from their 60 overs. The Australian openers responded by putting on a staunch partnership. At 61/0, things appeared to be smooth sailing.

Fletcher, operating at medium pace, turned the game on its head by removing Graeme Wood and counterpart Hughes in quick succession. He went on to wreck Australia's middle-order by accounting for David Hookes and Graham Yallop.

Even the legendary Allan Border, who would later become the embodiment of handling crisis situations, could not prevent Australia from slipping to an ignominious 13-run defeat. Nine years since the match, Zimbabwe gained Test status and joined the other Full Members.

#2 Rashid Khan - 7/18 against West Indies at Gros Islet (2017)

Rashid Khan spun an inextricable web around the West Indies batsmen

A few weeks before they were awarded Full Membership, Afghanistan embarked to the Caribbean for a tour comprising three T20Is and three ODIs. Upon receiving a 0-3 whitewash in the shortest format of the game, the visitors were up against all odds when the focus shifted to the 50-over version.

With the track sporting a barren look to it, Afghanistan won the toss and predictably chose to bat first. Opener Javed Ahmedi's resourceful 81 propelled them to 212. In response, the West Indies top-order crawled to 68/2 at the end of the 22nd over. Skipper Asghar Stanikzai finally unleashed Rashid Khan on the overtly cautious Caribbean batsmen.

Rashid struck in each of his first two deliveries. While Jason Mohammad paid the price for hanging on the back foot, debutant Roston Chase was left befuddled by a rapid googly. The leg-spinner repeated the set against Shai Hope and Jason Holder in his very next over.

Although he missed the hat-trick on both occasions, Rashid had effectively killed West Indies' hopes by slicing through their wary middle-order. The wrist-spinner's googly was too hot to handle for Ashley Nurse and Alzarri Joseph. Fittingly, he sealed Afghanistan's memorable victory by castling Miguel Cummins. Rashid's sensational figures of 7/18 placed him fourth on the all-time list of best ODI spells.

#1 Collins Obuya - 5/24 against Sri Lanka at Nairobi (2003)

Collins Obuya's magical spell shocked a strong Sri Lankan batting unit in the 2003 World Cup

Drafted into Pool B in the 2003 World Cup, Kenya started their campaign with a shellacking at the hands of South Africa. After sneaking past Canada, they received a timely boost when New Zealand refused to travel to Nairobi citing security reasons. The Kiwis had to forego four points to the emerging African team.

Kenya took on Sri Lanka in a crucial encounter at Nairobi. The visitors made a gross miscalculation by opting to chase on a dry surface which was expected to deteriorate further later in the game. Opener Kennedy Otieno's half-century helped the hosts reach 210.

The new-ball duo of Martin Suji and Thomas Odoyo trumped over the accomplished opening combination of Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu. Then, it was the Collins Obuya show at the Gymkhana Club Ground. The leg-spinner, who also doubled up as a useful lower-order batsman, derailed Sri Lanka's run-chase in a stunning spell.

Obuya dismissed the likes of Hasan Tillakaratne, Mahela Jayawardene, Aravinda de Silva and Kumar Sangakkara. The middle-order quartet, among the best players of spin in the global arena, had no answer to the wrist-spinner's guile. The slew of soft dismissals allowed Kenya to complete a resonating 53-run triumph.