In the rich history of One Day International (ODI) cricket, several bowlers have delivered legendary spells that left fans speechless and opposition teams shattered. Bowling in ODIs requires a perfect balance of accuracy, skill, mental strength, and sometimes sheer magic. Some bowlers have produced extraordinary performances that remain etched in cricket’s history books forever. Here, we take an in depth look at the most unforgettable bowling spells Most Wickets Taken In a Single Innings ODI in cricket History.
List of 5 Most Wickets Taken In a Single Innings ODI History
1. Chaminda Vaas
Chaminda Vaas’s spell against Zimbabwe on December 8, 2001, remains unmatched in ODI history. Playing at Colombo, Vaas dismantled Zimbabwe’s batting line-up single-handedly with his controlled left arm swing bowling. His variations in length, swing, and line made it impossible for Zimbabwe’s batsmen to settle Most Wickets Taken In a Single Innings ODI.
What makes this spell even more remarkable is that it came during the early overs of the match, allowing Vaas to take full advantage of the new ball under favorable Sri Lankan conditions. The Zimbabwean team was bundled out for just 38 runs one of the lowest team totals ever in ODI cricket. Vaas’s incredible spell not only showcased his skills but also demonstrated how a bowler can single-handedly change the course of a game Most Wickets Taken In a Single Innings ODI.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Player | Chaminda Vaas |
| Team | Sri Lanka |
| Opponent | Zimbabwe |
| Date | December 8, 2001 |
| Venue | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Overs Bowled | 8 |
| Maidens | 3 |
| Runs Conceded | 19 |
| Wickets Taken | 8 |
| Economy Rate | 2.37 |
2. Shahid Afridi
Shahid Afridi, known globally for his explosive batting, proved his bowling brilliance on July 14, 2013, against the West Indies at Providence Stadium, Guyana. In a surprising turn of events, it was Afridi’s bowling that stunned everyone. Using his sharp leg spin, subtle variations, and changes in pace, Afridi ripped through the West Indian batting order Most Wickets Taken In a Single Innings ODI.
He was unplayable on a pitch that offered turn, deceiving batsmen with flighted deliveries and sharp googlies. This performance not only highlights Afridi’s bowling talent but also makes it one of the most economical 7 wicket hauls in ODI history. It remains the best bowling figure by a Pakistani bowler in ODIs Most Wickets Taken In a Single Innings ODI.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Player | Shahid Afridi |
| Team | Pakistan |
| Opponent | West Indies |
| Date | July 14, 2013 |
| Venue | Providence Stadium |
| Overs Bowled | 9 |
| Maidens | 3 |
| Runs Conceded | 12 |
| Wickets Taken | 7 |
| Economy Rate | 1.33 |
3. Muttiah Muralitharan
Muttiah Muralitharan, widely regarded as one of the greatest spin bowlers in the history of cricket, delivered one of his finest performances against India on October 27, 2000, in Sharjah. Known for his unique bowling action and incredible control, Muralitharan spun a web around the Indian batsmen Most Wickets Taken In a Single Innings ODI.
He cleverly used flight, sharp turn, and bounce to deceive even the most experienced Indian batsmen. His variations kept the opposition guessing, and wickets fell at regular intervals. This spell was a prime example of how a spinner can dominate an ODI match, and remains one of the finest bowling efforts in limited overs cricket Most Wickets Taken In a Single Innings ODI.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Player | Muttiah Muralitharan |
| Team | Sri Lanka |
| Opponent | India |
| Date | October 27, 2000 |
| Venue | Sharjah, UAE |
| Overs Bowled | 10 |
| Maidens | 1 |
| Runs Conceded | 30 |
| Wickets Taken | 7 |
| Economy Rate | 3.00 |
READ MORE: Top 5 Best Spin Bowlers in ODI Cricket History
4. Waqar Younis
Waqar Younis, one of the fastest and most dangerous fast bowlers of his era, produced a deadly spell against England at Leeds on October 29, 1990. Famous for his toe crushing yorkers and reverse swing, Waqar demolished the English batting line up with sheer pace and precision Most Wickets Taken In a Single Innings ODI.
Even on an English pitch not always known for aiding reverse swing, Waqar extracted late movement, consistently targeting the stumps and pads. His ability to bowl fast swinging deliveries even with the old ball made him nearly unplayable. This spell remains one of the greatest examples of reverse swing mastery in Most Wickets Taken In a Single Innings ODII cricket.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Player | Waqar Younis |
| Team | Pakistan |
| Opponent | England |
| Date | October 29, 1990 |
| Venue | Leeds, England |
| Overs Bowled | 10 |
| Maidens | 0 |
| Runs Conceded | 36 |
| Wickets Taken | 7 |
| Economy Rate | 3.60 |
5. Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram, often called the “Sultan of Swing,” was a magician with the ball. On February 22, 1993, against Zimbabwe at Newlands, South Africa, Akram showcased his incredible swing bowling abilities Most Wickets Taken In a Single Innings ODI.
He swung the ball both ways effortlessly at high speed, confusing the Zimbabwean batsmen and drawing mistakes. His pinpoint accuracy, combined with his ability to deliver late movement, made this performance one of the most economical 5 wicket hauls in ODI cricket. Wasim’s ability to destroy the batting order quickly was unmatched Most Wickets Taken In a Single Innings ODI.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Player | Wasim Akram |
| Team | Pakistan |
| Opponent | Zimbabwe |
| Date | February 22, 1993 |
| Venue | Newlands, South Africa |
| Overs Bowled | 9 |
| Maidens | 2 |
| Runs Conceded | 15 |
| Wickets Taken | 5 |
| Economy Rate | 1.66 |
Each of these legendary bowlers delivered extraordinary spells that are forever recorded in ODI cricket history. Whether it was Chaminda Vaas’s world record 8 wicket haul, Afridi’s magical leg spin, Muralitharan’s wizardry, Waqar’s lethal reverse swing, or Wasim’s surgical swing mastery these performances show the magic of bowling in limited overs cricket Most Wickets Taken In a Single Innings ODI.