Top 5 T20I bowling performances of 2021

2021 was the year of the T20 World Cup and as a result, teams played a lot of matches in the format to prepare for the mega event. Even this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) was seen as a preparation for the ICC tournament. In the end, it was Australia who walked away with the coveted trophy as they won their maiden men’s T20 World Cup title.

If we look at the overall numbers for 2021, Pakistan had a standout year. They won 20 out of 29 T20I games in the year. Pakistan were the only team who were undefeated at the end of the Super 12 round of the T20 World Cup. However, they couldn’t go all the way, faltering against eventual champions Australia in the semi-final.

In complete contrast, Australia were defeated in 12 of the 22 T20I games they featured in during the 2021 season. All that mattered for them, though, was that they won the T20 World Cup. Runners-up New Zealand and England were among the other impressive sides in the T20 format in 2021.

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Memorable T20I bowling efforts of 2021

While T20 is viewed as a batter’s game, bowlers also played an important role in their respective teams’ success. With 2021 drawing to a close, we look back at the top five memorable bowling performances of the year.

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#5 Dwayne Bravo - 4/19 vs South Africa (4th T20I, Grenada)

Dwayne Bravo in action during the T20 World Cup. Pic: Getty Images

Veteran West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo came up with a fantastic spell of 4 for 19 in the 4th T20I of the five-match series against South Africa in Grenada in July. Despite Windies captain Kieron Pollard’s blazing 51* off 25 balls, the hosts could only post 167 for 6 batting first. West Indies needed someone to stand up with the ball, and the experienced Bravo rose to the occasion.

With five overs to go, South Africa were 109 for 5 and a well-set Quinton de Kock was beginning to open up. Bravo, however, killed the Proteas’ chase with a fine display of death-overs bowling. He dismissed George Linde (6) with a well-disguised slower one and soon added the massive scalp of De Kock (60). The South African left-hander steered a low full-toss to point.

Bravo claimed two more wickets in the same over to seal the deal for West Indies. Tabraiz Shamsi (0) skied another slower one to extra cover, while Lungi Ngidi (0) miscued a full ball towards square leg. In the end, South Africa were restricted to 146 for 9 as West Indies won the T20I by 21 runs.

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#4 Haris Rauf - 4/22 vs New Zealand (Match 19 of T20 World Cup, Sharjah)

Haris Rauf celebrates the wicket of Martin Guptill. Pic: Getty Images

Haris Rauf was one of Pakistan’s unexpected heroes during their memorable T20 World Cup 2021 campaign in the UAE. The fast bowler’s standout performance came against New Zealand in Match 19 in Sharjah. He claimed 4 for 22 as Pakistan defeated the Kiwis by five wickets.

After New Zealand got off to a solid start, Rauf got the big breakthrough by sending back Martin Guptill (17) with a pacy delivery. Rauf returned towards the death to hurt the Kiwis further. He had Devon Conway (27) caught at cow corner and forced Glenn Phillips (13) to miscue a slower ball. The Pakistan fast bowler had a fourth when he outfoxed Mitchell Santner (6) with a change of pace to clean him up.

Rauf’s efforts restricted New Zealand to 134 for 8. The Kiwis fought hard with the ball in typical fashion and reduced Pakistan to 87 for 5. However, Asif Ali’s 12-ball 27* ensured that Rauf’s heroics did not go in vain.

#3 Dwaine Pretorius - 5/17 vs Pakistan (2nd T20I, Lahore)

South African pacer Dwaine Pretorius. Pic: Getty Images

Medium-pacer Dwaine Pretorius registered the best figures by a South African in T20Is in the second game of the three-match series in Lahore. Pretorius claimed 5/17, bettering Ryan McLaren’s 5 for 19 against West Indies at North Sound in May 2010. South Africa fielded first after winning the toss, and Pretorius’ record-breaking performance justified the decision.

Pretorius began by trapping Pakistan skipper Babar Azam (5) lbw with one that nipped back in sharply. He returned in the second half of the innings and had Iftikhar Ahmed (20) caught off a smart slower ball. Pretorius also ended Mohammad Rizwan’s (51) resistance with another slower one that the opener could only chip to long-off. Khushdil Shah (15) was caught behind off a wide yorker, while Mohammad Nawaz (0) was cleaned up with a pacy delivery.

Pakistan could never get any rhythm going into their innings and were restricted to 144 for 7 in the T20I. South Africa eased to victory with six wickets and 22 balls to spare as Reeza Hendricks and Pite van Biljon contributed 42 each.

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#2 Shaheen Shah Afridi - 3/31 vs India (Match 16 of T20 World Cup, Dubai)

Shaheen Afridi celebrates the wicket of Virat Kohli during the T20 World Cup. Pic: Getty Images

There was plenty of hype surrounding the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup 2021 encounter in Dubai, as there always is. The build-up to the match centred around how India had never lost a World Cup clash to Pakistan. Incredibly, Shaheen Shah Afridi literally killed the contest with two lethal deliveries in what was arguably the spell of the tournament.

Pakistan bowled first after winning the toss and Afridi sent back Rohit Sharma for a golden duck with an unplayable full-length delivery. The well-directed ball curved in late and caught Rohit right in front of the stumps. KL Rahul (3) was then cleaned up with an express delivery which was past him even as he was trying to figure out what shot to play. At the start of the third over, India were 2 for 6.

The batting side launched a mini-fightback courtesy skipper Virat Kohli (57) and Rishabh Pant (39). Afridi returned at the death to have Kohli caught behind with a slower bouncer. India were restricted to 151 for 7, and unbeaten fifties from Azam and Rizwan lifted Pakistan to an unforgettable 10-wicket triumph.

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#1 Josh Hazlewood - 3/16 vs New Zealand (T20 World Cup Final, Dubai)

Josh Hazlewood celebrates the wicket of Daryl Mitchell in the T20 World Cup final. Pic: Getty Images

Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood rounded off a memorable T20 World Cup with a sparkling performance in the final against New Zealand in Dubai. He conceded only 16 runs in four overs and picked up key wickets of Daryl Mitchell (11) and opposition skipper Kane Williamson (85).

After Australia invited the Kiwis to bat, Hazlewood struck the first blow by having Mitchell caught behind off a leg-cutter. The Aussie pacer kept things extremely tight and did not give away any freebies. He then returned towards the end to ensure the Kiwis did not finish with a flourish.

After the loss of early wickets, Williamson played a spectacular knock to bring New Zealand back in the contest. He found some support from Glenn Phillips, who was beginning to get into his groove. However, Hazlewood dismissed both batters in the 18th over. Phillips holed out to deep midwicket for 18, while Williamson was caught at long-off.

Despite Hazlewood’s fine bowling effort, Australia were set a competitive 173 to lift their maiden men’s T20 World Cup. Mitchell Marsh (77* off 50) and David Warner (53 off 38) guided them to glory as Australia registered a thumping eight-wicket win.