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Since the T20 World Cup was held in 2021, the ODI format has not gained a lot of prominence this year. All teams were busy preparing for the ICC event by playing the majority of matches in the T20 format. Even India played only six ODIs in 2021, winning four and losing two.
England, the defending champions in the ODI format, featured in nine 50-over matches and ended up on the winning side in six of them. T20 World Cup champions Australia played only three ODIs, winning two of them.
T20 World Cup runners-up New Zealand were undefeated in ODIs in 2021. However, the numbers are a bit misleading since they played only three games in the 50-over format. Sri Lanka and South Africa had a poor run in the ODIs this year. While the Lankans lost 10 out of 15 games, the Proteas won only three from 10. Furthermore, Pakistan lost four of six and West Indies five of nine.
Memorable ODI bowling efforts of 2021
Although only a handful of ODIs were played in 2021, there were a few impressive performances from bowlers. As 2021 comes to a close, we look back at five memorable bowling efforts in the one-day format.
#5 Shakib Al Hasan (4/8) vs West Indies - (1st ODI, Dhaka)
Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan made a brilliant return to international cricket after serving a one-year ban for not reporting a corrupt approach. He claimed 4 for 8 in 7.2 overs in the first ODI of the three-match series against West Indies in Dhaka. Bangladesh bowled first after winning the toss and Shakib ran through Windies’ middle and lower-order as the visitors were restricted to 122.
After Mustafizur Rahman sent back West Indies’ openers cheaply, Shakib ended Andre McCarthy’s innings on 12. The batter attempted a sweep, but was foxed by the arm ball and cleaned up. Jason Mohammed (17) was then stumped by a full delivery that pitched on off and turned away to beat the batter’s defense.
Nkrumah Bonner (0) was trapped lbw by another full ball from Shakib and Alzarri Joseph (4) cleaned through the gate between bat and pad. Chasing 123, Bangladesh romped home to victory by six wickets with 97 balls in hand.
#4 Dushmantha Chameera (5/16) vs Bangladesh - (3rd ODI, Dhaka)
Sri Lankan pacer Dushmantha Chameera ran through Bangladesh’s batting line-up with figures of 5/16 in the third ODI of the three-match series in Dhaka in May. The Lankans batted first after winning the toss and posted 286 for 6 on the back of Kusal Perera’s 120. Chameera then claimed an impressive five-fer as Bangladesh folded up for 189 in 42.3 overs.
The Sri Lankan pacer took the first three wickets to fall. He had Mohammad Naim (1) caught at slip and dismissed Shakib Al Hasan (4) with a short ball. Chameera then had Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal (17) caught behind off a slower ball as the hosts slipped to 28 for 3.
The fast bowler returned towards the end of the innings to have Mehidy Hasan Miraz (0) caught off a slower ball. Chameera then cleaned up Taskin Ahmed (0) with a yorker to complete a five-fer. Sri Lanka won the match but lost the ODI series by a 2-1 margin.
#3 Tabraiz Shamsi (5/49) vs Sri Lanka - (2nd ODI, Colombo)
South African left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi claimed 5 for 49 in Proteas’ 67-run victory over the Lankans in the second ODI of the three-match series in Colombo in September. Batting first after winning the toss, the visitors put up 283 for 6 in 47 overs in a rain-shortened encounter. Opener Janneman Malan led the way with a fluent 121.
In response, Sri Lanka were set to chase 265 in 41 overs. Shamsi did not allow the hosts to get anywhere close, running through the middle and lower order. After Kagiso Rabada and Wiaan Mulder combined to reduce Lanka to 19 for 3, Shamsi ensured there was no fightback in store. He began by having Dhananjaya de Silva (12) caught down the leg side.
The left-arm spinner then broke a resolute stand between Dasun Shanaka (30) and Charith Asalanka (77), having the former caught at deep backward square off a short ball. Shami also ended Asalanka’s brilliant innings as the batter slog-swept a looped-up delivery to deep midwicket.
Next, Shamsi outfoxed Chameera (11) and cleaned him up. He completed a five-fer and also bowled South Africa to victory as Akila Dananjaya (3) hit an over-pitched delivery to long off.
#2 Sam Curran (5/48) vs Sri Lanka - (2nd ODI, The Oval)
England all-rounder Sam Curran claimed 5 for 48 as the hosts defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the second ODI of the three-match series at The Oval in July. England bowled first after winning the toss and Curran ran through the top order, reducing them to 12 for 3 inside four overs.
The left-arm seamer trapped Kusal Perera for a two-ball duck and added the scalp of Avishka Fernando (0) in similar fashion. Curran then cleaned up Pathum Nissanka (5) with a brilliant inswinger. Curran returned to end Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva’s (26) resistance with a short ball.
He completed his maiden five-for by having Chamika Karunaratne caught behind for 21. David Willey claimed the other four wickets as England reduced Sri Lanka to 241 for 9.
The hosts chased down the target without any trouble as Jason Roy (60), Joe Root (68*) and skipper Eoin Morgan (75*) struck impressive half-centuries.
#1 Mitchell Starc (5/48) vs West Indies - (1st ODI, Bridgetown)
Left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc was the star performer as the Aussies thumped West Indies by 133 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method in the first ODI of the three-match series in Bridgetown in July. Hayden Walsh’s 5 for 39 restricted Australia to 252 for 9 after they won the toss and batted first. Starc, however, nullified Walsh’s effort with a five-fer of his own.
Starc sent back Evin Lewis on the first ball with a return catch off a leading edge before cleaning up Jason Mohammed (2) with an inswinger. Nicholas Pooran (0) was Starc’s third victim, trapped in front as he missed his flick. The left-arm seamer also ended West Indies skipper Kieron Pollard’s resistance for 56. Starc squared up Pollard with a good length delivery and had him caught at slip.
The Aussie completed his five-fer with a low full toss that trapped Akeal Hosein (0) in front of the stumps. Josh Hazlewood also shone with 3 for 11 as Australia bundled out West Indies for 123 in 26.2 overs.
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