5 instances when part-time bowlers demolished batting line-ups

Dean Elgar’s four wicket haul restricted India within 201 runsPart-time bowlers do not always get the recognition that they deserve. They are the ones that the captain goes to when he wants to rest his specialist bowlers or just wants to while away a few overs without leaking too much runs. However, more than once, part-timers have impacted matches and completely changed the game.Today’s match between India and South Africa is a perfect example. While the Indian batting line-up was preparing to face the express pace and swing of Steyn and Rabada, Dean Elgar ran through the famed Indian batting line-up. A part-time bowler who actually opened the batting for South Africa claimed four wickets for 22 runs, his career best figures.Elgar’s spin bowling reduced India to only 201 runs. Here is a list of five part-time bowlers who produced very special spells.

#1 Sourav Ganguly - 5/16 against Pakistan

Ganguly’s exceptional part-tim bowling won India the match

The Sahara Cup was a friendship series played between arch rivals India and Pakistan for three years. It was during its second edition that Sourav Ganguly’s all-round performances stood out and helped India win the series 4-1.

Sachin Tendulkar was the captain during the series and he gave the ball to Ganguly on a pitch that had made batting quite difficult. On September 18, 1997, Sourav Ganguly hogged the limelight not for his delightful shots through the off-side, but for his bowling heroics at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club. He single-handedly won the match for India with his medium pace coupled with a little movement off the deck to which the Pakistan batsmen had no answers.

India had scored only 182 runs, which Pakistan began to chase quite aggressively. Ganguly came in the 19^th over when Pakistan was smoothly sailing towards victory and completely turned the game on its head. Ganguly finished his spell: 10-3-16-5 and was also the Man of the Match.

#2 Michael Clarke - 6/9 against India

Michael Clarke was ruling it at the Wankhede with his six-wicket haul

In one of the most exciting Test encounters in recent times between India and Australia, Michael Clarke took an astounding 6 for 9 haul. In the fourth match of the series, taking place in Mumbai in 2004, Clarke’s slow left-arm orthodox spin seemed to work wonders against one of the best Indian batting line-up.

Australia's mighty batting line-up capitulated in the second innings for just 93 because of some magnificent bowling from Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik. India pulled off a 13-run victory and Clarke’s courageous bowling went in vain. However, his spell remains memorable seeing that it was some wily spin that fetched him even the wicket of Rahul Dravid.

#3 Marcus North - 6/55 against Pakistan

Marcus North’s 6/55 was the best bowling by an Australian spinner in a Test at Lord’s

When Pakistan and Australia clashed for a Test in 2010, no one considered Marcus North’s bowling to cause a flutter. The match was talking place at the neutral venue of the hallowed Lords’s and North’s exploits, if any, were expected to come from his batting.

All that changed when he broke the spine of the Pakistan batting line-up by taking 6 for 55. This was the best bowling by an Australian spinner in a Test innings at the home of cricket.

Things went North's way as soon as Ricky Ponting handed him the ball ahead of Steven Smith on the fourth day of the game. With two left-handers at the crease, Ponting wanted the ball turning away from them, but with his first delivery North drifted the ball down leg side and had Salman Butt stumped thanks to an excellent piece of glovework from Tim Paine. From then on, there was no stopping him as he won the Test match for Australia.

#4 Kraigg Brathwaite - 6/29 against Sri Lanka

Kraigg Brathwaite holds the record of best Test bowling figures by an opening batsman

West Indies' Kraigg Brathwaite achieved the best Test bowling figures by an opening batsman on day three of the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2015.

The 22-year old had only one Test wicket and three first-class scalps to his name before this game, but captured 6-29 with his part-time off-spin. That helped bowl Sri Lanka out for 206, setting West Indies 244 to win.

The right-hander had only bowled in six of his previous 23 Tests since his debut in 2011, taking a solitary wicket against India in Kolkata for an overall Test bowling average of 137. However, when he was asked to share the spin workload with Devendra Bishoo, Brathwaite churned out his magic in Galle.

#5 Andrew Symonds - 5/18 against Bangladesh

Andrew Symonds proved to be a potent force with the ball as he turned the innings with his five wickets

Australia and Bangladesh faced each other in the NatWest series in 2005 at Old Trafford. Australia had omne of the most dominating teams back then and Bangladesh was only a team trying to come to terms with international cricket. Inspite of that, Bangladesh had a flying start as Mohammad Ashraful hit his consecutive third half-century in the series and was ably supported by Shahriar Nafees. The legendary speedster Glenn McGrath was unable to take a single wicket while Brett Lee had managed only two.

Andrew Symonds proved to be a potent force with the ball as he turned the innings with his five wickets. He came on in the 22nd over, with Ashraful and Nafees in control at 101 for 2, and his offspin soon yorked Nafees.

He added Habibul Bashar next ball through a fine edge and Bangladesh were in trouble at 113 for 4. Then they duly collapsed. He finished with figures of 5/18 and Australia won by 10 wickets.