Top 3 bowlers with most ODI wickets in a calendar year

#2. Saeed Ajmal (62 wickets in 2013)

Saeed Ajmal celebrating a scalp with Kamran Akmal

Former Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal had a memorable 2013, claiming 62 wickets in 33 matches at an average of 20.45 and a strike rate of 29.6. Ajmal maintained an excellent economy rate of 4.13 in the year. Ajmal finished the year with one five-wicket haul and two four-fors.

Ajmal’s best of 5 for 24 came against India at Delhi in January, as he ran through the lower order of the Indian batting. India, however, won the match by 10 runs as Pakistan failed to chase down 168. Ajmal picked up 4 for 30 against South Africa at Sharjah in October, dismissing Graeme Smith, Faf du Plessis, and skipper AB de Villiers. Pakistan, this time, went down by one run this time.

The former off-spinner’s other four-wicket haul came against Sri Lanka at Abu Dhabi in December. He again ran through the lower half of the opposition, including opposition skipper Angelo Mathews. Ajmal’s spell restricted Sri Lanka to 225, which Pakistan chased down courtesy Mohammad Hafeez’s 113 not out.

His other impressive efforts in the year included 3 for 20 against India at Kolkata in January. Ajmal further claimed 3 for 42 against South Africa at Durban, dismissing the well-set de Villiers for 75, and David Miller for 67, a match Pakistan won by three wickets. Ajmal also played a stellar role in the tied encounter against West Indies in July, with 3 for 36, claiming the wickets of Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Bravo, and Sunil Narine.