Best Bowling Figures in ODI World Cup History

A great bowling spell in an ODI World Cup can change a match faster than almost any other performance. A bowler who takes five, six or seven wickets can destroy a batting order, turn a competitive chase into a collapse or rescue a team that appears to be heading for defeat. World Cup pressure makes these performances even more special because every wicket can affect qualification, knockout progress or the destination of the trophy.

The men’s ICC ODI Cricket World Cup has produced several unforgettable spells since the tournament began in 1975. Glenn McGrath holds the all-time record with 7/15 for Australia against Namibia in 2003. Andy Bichel, Tim Southee, Winston Davis and Mohammed Shami are the other bowlers to take seven wickets in a World Cup innings.

Shami became the latest member of that group in 2023 when he took 7/57 against New Zealand in the semi-final. His performance also gave India their best individual bowling figures in World Cup history.

Best Bowling Figures in ODI World Cup History

The table below lists the best bowling figures in men’s ODI World Cup history through the latest completed tournament in 2023.

The list shows how difficult it is to reach seven wickets in a World Cup innings. Only five bowlers have done it, and McGrath’s 7/15 has remained unbeaten since 2003.

Glenn McGrath – 7/15 vs Namibia

Glenn McGrath holds the record for the best bowling figures in ODI World Cup history.

The Australian fast bowler took 7/15 from seven overs against Namibia at Potchefstroom during the 2003 tournament. Four of his seven overs were maidens.

Australia had already posted 301/6, leaving Namibia with a difficult chase. McGrath then removed opener Jan-Berrie Burger in the first over and continued attacking the stumps and outside edge.

Namibia collapsed for only 45 in 14 overs.

McGrath finished with seven wickets while conceding only 15 runs, giving Australia a 256-run victory.

The spell perfectly represented McGrath’s strengths. He did not depend on extreme pace or unusual variations. Instead, he used relentless accuracy, movement off the pitch and an exceptional ability to force batters into mistakes.

His 7/15 remains the benchmark for World Cup bowling.

Andy Bichel – 7/20 vs England

Only a few days after McGrath set the record, Andy Bichel produced another seven-wicket performance for Australia in the same World Cup.

Bichel took 7/20 from 10 overs against England at St George’s Park in Gqeberha.

England appeared capable of posting a strong total, but Bichel repeatedly broke partnerships. His wickets included Nick Knight, Michael Vaughan, Nasser Hussain, Alec Stewart, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff and Ashley Giles.

England finished on 204/8.

Bichel’s influence did not end with the ball. Australia later collapsed during the chase, but he scored an unbeaten 34 and shared a crucial lower-order partnership with Michael Bevan.

Australia reached 208/8 and won by two wickets.

Bichel’s performance remains one of the greatest all-round displays in World Cup history because his seven wickets and unbeaten batting contribution both directly affected the result.

Tim Southee – 7/33 vs England

Tim Southee delivered one of the finest new-ball spells in World Cup history against England in Wellington in 2015.

The New Zealand fast bowler finished with 7/33 from nine overs.

Southee found swing with the new ball and bowled Ian Bell and Moeen Ali before returning to dismantle the middle and lower order. His other wickets included James Taylor, Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad and Steven Finn.

England were bowled out for only 123.

Brendon McCullum then attacked England’s bowlers during the chase, reaching a record 18-ball fifty.

New Zealand completed the target in only 12.2 overs and won by eight wickets.

Southee’s 7/33 remains the best World Cup bowling figures by a New Zealand player.

Winston Davis – 7/51 vs Australia

Winston Davis became the first bowler in World Cup history to take seven wickets in an innings.

He achieved the feat for West Indies against Australia at Headingley in Leeds during the 1983 tournament.

West Indies scored 252/9 before Davis took control with the ball.

Playing his first World Cup match, the fast bowler collected 7/51 from 10.3 overs. At the time, those were also the best bowling figures ever recorded in ODI cricket.

Australia were bowled out for 151, giving West Indies a 101-run victory.

Davis’ record stood for nearly 20 years before McGrath finally surpassed it in 2003.

His place in World Cup history remains secure because he was the first bowler to prove that seven wickets in one tournament innings were possible.

Mohammed Shami – 7/57 vs New Zealand

Mohammed Shami produced India’s best World Cup bowling figures in the 2023 semi-final against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

India posted 397/4 after centuries from Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer.

New Zealand then began a serious chase. Daryl Mitchell and Kane Williamson built a large partnership and kept their side in the contest.

Shami broke the stand by dismissing Williamson and then continued taking wickets at crucial moments.

He finished with 7/57 from 9.5 overs.

New Zealand were bowled out for 327, and India won by 70 runs to qualify for the final.

The spell was historic for several reasons. Shami became the first Indian bowler to take seven wickets in a World Cup innings and the fifth bowler overall to achieve the feat.

He also finished the 2023 tournament with 24 wickets, the most by any bowler in that edition.

Gary Gilmour – 6/14 vs England

Gary Gilmour’s 6/14 against England in the 1975 semi-final remains one of the most remarkable spells from the early World Cup era.

Bowling at Headingley, the Australian left-arm seamer used swing-friendly conditions brilliantly.

England were bowled out for only 93.

Gilmour took six wickets from 12 overs while conceding just 14 runs and bowling six maidens.

Australia then struggled in the chase, but Gilmour again played a major role with the bat. He scored an unbeaten 28 to help his team reach the final.

Although his figures have since been surpassed by five seven-wicket hauls, 6/14 remains the best six-wicket analysis in World Cup history.

Best Bowling Figures in a World Cup Final

Joel Garner holds the record for the best bowling figures in a men’s ODI World Cup final.

The West Indies fast bowler took 5/38 from 11 overs against England at Lord’s in 1979.

West Indies had scored 286/9, led by Viv Richards’ unbeaten 138.

England began the chase with a 129-run opening partnership between Mike Brearley and Geoff Boycott, but their slow scoring rate allowed the required rate to rise.

Garner then destroyed the middle and lower order.

He dismissed Graham Gooch, David Gower, Wayne Larkins, Chris Old and Bob Taylor.

England collapsed from 183/2 to 194 all out, losing their final eight wickets for only 11 runs.

West Indies won by 92 runs and successfully defended their World Cup title.

Garner’s 5/38 remains the only five-wicket haul that stands as the best bowling performance in a men’s World Cup final.

Best Bowling Figures by an Indian Bowler

Mohammed Shami owns India’s best bowling figures in ODI World Cup history with 7/57 against New Zealand in the 2023 semi-final.

Before Shami broke the record, Ashish Nehra held India’s best World Cup analysis.

Nehra took 6/23 from 10 overs against England in Durban during the 2003 World Cup.

India had scored 250/9 before Nehra produced a brilliant spell under lights. He removed Michael Vaughan, Nasser Hussain, Alec Stewart, Paul Collingwood, Craig White and Ronnie Irani.

England were bowled out for 168, and India won by 82 runs.

Shami’s World Cup record goes beyond one great spell. He has taken four five-wicket hauls in the tournament, more than any other bowler in men’s World Cup history.

His 2023 campaign alone included 5/54 against New Zealand, 5/18 against Sri Lanka and 7/57 against New Zealand in the semi-final.

Best Bowling Figures by a Pakistani Bowler

Shaheen Shah Afridi holds Pakistan’s record for the best bowling figures in men’s ODI World Cup history.

He took 6/35 against Bangladesh at Lord’s during the 2019 tournament.

Pakistan scored 315/9 before Shaheen dismantled the Bangladesh batting order.

He removed Tamim Iqbal, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, Mahmudullah, Mohammad Saifuddin and Mustafizur Rahman.

Bangladesh were bowled out for 221, and Pakistan won by 94 runs.

Shaheen was only 19 at the time, making the performance even more impressive.

Pakistan have also produced several other World Cup five-wicket hauls. Mohammad Amir took 5/30 against Australia in 2019, Wasim Akram claimed 5/28 against Namibia in 2003, and Sohail Khan took 5/55 against India in 2015.

Shaheen himself has multiple World Cup five-fors and remains Pakistan’s leading performer in this category.

Five-Wicket Hauls in ODI World Cup History

A five-wicket haul is one of the most important individual achievements for a bowler in ODI cricket.

World Cups make the feat even harder because bowlers face the strongest batting line-ups under tournament pressure.

Mohammed Shami holds the record for the most five-wicket hauls in men’s ODI World Cup history with four.

Mitchell Starc is second with three.

Several players have taken two World Cup five-fors, including Gary Gilmour, Glenn McGrath, Shaheen Afridi and Mustafizur Rahman.

Shami also created a single-edition record in 2023 by taking three five-wicket hauls in one tournament.

His 2023 five-fors came against New Zealand in the group stage, Sri Lanka in Mumbai and New Zealand again in the semi-final.

The list of great World Cup five-wicket spells spans every era. Gilmour took 6/14 in 1975, Garner claimed 5/38 in the 1979 final, Davis took seven wickets in 1983, McGrath and Bichel dominated in 2003, and Shami produced his record-breaking run in 2023.

Six-Wicket Hauls in World Cup History

Six wickets in a World Cup innings is an elite achievement in its own right.

Gary Gilmour’s 6/14 remains the best six-wicket spell.

Ashish Nehra and Shane Bond both recorded 6/23 during the 2003 tournament. Nehra achieved his figures against England, while Bond produced his spell against Australia.

Chaminda Vaas took 6/25 against Bangladesh in the same edition. His opening over included a hat-trick, making him the first bowler in international cricket to take a hat-trick from the first three balls of a match.

Kemar Roach recorded 6/27 against the Netherlands in 2011, while Mitchell Starc took 6/28 against New Zealand in one of the most dramatic matches of the 2015 tournament.

Shaheen Afridi’s 6/35 in 2019 completed the leading group of World Cup six-wicket analyses.

Best Bowling Figures in ODI World Cup

Bowling figures alone do not always explain the importance of a spell.

McGrath’s 7/15 came in a dominant Australian victory, while Shami’s 7/57 arrived in a World Cup semi-final with New Zealand building a dangerous chase.

Bichel’s 7/20 was especially valuable because Australia later needed his runs to complete a narrow two-wicket victory.

Garner’s 5/38 directly decided a World Cup final.

The best spells combine wickets, match situation and pressure.

Modern ODI rules also make large wicket hauls increasingly difficult. Batters attack more often, boundaries are easier to find and bowlers operate under fielding restrictions.

That makes seven-wicket hauls particularly rare.

A bowler must usually combine skill, favorable conditions and relentless accuracy to remove most of an opposition batting order within a maximum of 10 overs.

Conclusion

Glenn McGrath holds the record for the best bowling figures in ODI World Cup history with 7/15 against Namibia in 2003.

Andy Bichel is second with 7/20, followed by Tim Southee’s 7/33, Winston Davis’ 7/51 and Mohammed Shami’s 7/57.

Shami’s spell against New Zealand in 2023 is India’s best World Cup bowling performance, while Shaheen Afridi’s 6/35 against Bangladesh in 2019 is Pakistan’s record.

Joel Garner owns the World Cup final record with 5/38 against England in 1979.

Shami also leads the tournament for career five-wicket hauls with four, including three during the 2023 edition alone. From Gilmour’s swing in 1975 to Shami’s semi-final brilliance in 2023, these performances show how one bowler can completely reshape a World Cup match.

FAQs

Who has the best bowling figures in ODI World Cup history?

Glenn McGrath holds the record with 7/15 for Australia against Namibia at Potchefstroom during the 2003 World Cup.

How many bowlers have taken seven wickets in an ODI World Cup match?

Five bowlers have taken seven wickets in a men’s ODI World Cup innings: Glenn McGrath, Andy Bichel, Tim Southee, Winston Davis and Mohammed Shami.

What are the best World Cup bowling figures by an Indian?

Mohammed Shami holds India’s record with 7/57 against New Zealand in the 2023 World Cup semi-final in Mumbai.

What are the best World Cup bowling figures by a Pakistani?

Shaheen Afridi holds Pakistan’s record with 6/35 against Bangladesh at Lord’s during the 2019 World Cup.

What are the best bowling figures in an ODI World Cup final?

Joel Garner holds the final record with 5/38 for West Indies against England at Lord’s in the 1979 World Cup final.

Who has the most five-wicket hauls in ODI World Cup history?

Mohammed Shami holds the record with four World Cup five-wicket hauls. He also became the first bowler to take three five-fors in a single edition in 2023.