Only five players in World Cup history have achieved a seven-wicket haul. Remarkably, some of the greatest bowlers in the game have never reached such figures in Test cricket. Yet, these extraordinary feats have occurred multiple times in the ODI World Cup.
India’s Mohammed Shami was the latest to join this elite group with an outstanding seven-wicket haul in the 2023 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. Notably, he is also the only bowler with two entries in the top 20 best bowling figures in World Cup history.
Best Bowling Figures in ODI World Cup
With the 13th edition of the Cricket World Cup in progress, let’s take a look at the top bowling performances that have made their mark in the history of the 50-overs World Cup.
| Player | Team | Bowling Figures | Against | Location | Year |
| Glenn McGrath | Australia | 7/15 | vs Namibia | Potchefstroom | 2003 |
| Andy Bichel | Australia | 7/20 | vs England | Gqeberha | 2003 |
| Tim Southee | New Zealand | 7/33 | vs England | Wellington | 2015 |
| Winston Davis | West Indies | 7/51 | vs Australia | Leeds | 1983 |
| Mohammad Shami | India | 7/57 | vs New Zealand | Mumbai | 2023 |
| Gary Gilmour | Australia | 6/14 | vs England | Leeds | 1975 |
| Ashish Nehra | India | 6/23 | vs England | Durban | 2003 |
| Shane Bond | New Zealand | 6/23 | vs Australia | Gqeberha | 2003 |
| Chaminda Vaas | Sri Lanka | 6/25 | vs Bangladesh | Pietermaritzburg | 2003 |
| Kemar Roach | West Indies | 6/27 | vs Netherlands | Delhi | 2011 |
Best Bowling Figures By Players in ODI World Cup
1.Glenn McGrath: 7/15
Australia vs Namibia, Potchefstroom, 2003
Glenn McGrath holds the record for the best bowling figures in ODI World Cup history. Australia set a target of 301/6 in their 50 overs, and in response, McGrath decimated the Namibian batting lineup, taking seven wickets for just 15 runs in seven overs. Namibia were bowled out for a mere 45 runs. Additionally, McGrath is the leading wicket-taker in Cricket World Cup history with 71 wickets.
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Andy Bichel: 7/20
Australia vs New Zealand, Gqeberha 2003
Another Australian pacer, Andy Bichel, holds the second-best bowling figures in World Cup history. Bowling first against rivals England, Bichel delivered a masterclass in pace bowling, restricting England to 204/8 with his exceptional performance of seven wickets for just 20 runs in his 10 overs. Additionally, he contributed an unbeaten 34 runs, leading Australia to a thrilling two-wicket victory.
Also Read: Most Catches Record in ODI World Cup
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Tim Southee: 7/33
New Zealand vs England, Wellington 2015
On February 20, 2015, New Zealand’s Tim Southee recorded the third-best bowling figures in World Cup history. In swinging conditions at Wellington, Southee’s exceptional bowling performance of 7/33 helped the Kiwis dismiss England for 123 in 33.2 overs. New Zealand then chased down the target in just 12.2 overs, securing an 8-wicket victory.
4) Winston Davis: 7/51
West Indies vs Australia, Leeds 1983
West Indies pacer Winston Davis holds the fourth-best bowling figures in ODI World Cup history and was the first bowler to achieve a seven-wicket haul in the tournament. While defending a total of 253 runs, Davis tore through Australia’s middle order, finishing with impressive figures of 7/51 in 10.3 overs. His performance led the West Indies to a commanding 101-run victory.
5) Mohammad Shami: 7/57
India vs New Zealand, Mumbai 2023
Mohammad Shami became the first Indian bowler to feature in the top 5 bowling figures in World Cup history. During the 2023 World Cup semi-final in Mumbai, Shami delivered a remarkable performance, taking 7 wickets for just 57 runs, helping dismiss New Zealand. India won the match by 70 runs, advancing to the final. This achievement set a new record for the best bowling figures by an Indian in an ODI World Cup, surpassing Ashish Nehra’s 6/23 against England in 2003.
Also Read: Best Bowling Average in World Cup 2024
Top Bowling Performances in ODI World Cup 2023: Best Figures from Each Edition
| Team | Player | Best Figures | ODI World Cup |
| India | Mohammad Shami | 7/57 | 2023 |
| Pakistan | Shaheen Afridi | 6/35 | 2019 |
| New Zealand | Tim Southee | 7/33 | 2015 |
| West Indies | Kemar Roach | 6/27 | 2011 |
| South Africa | Andrew Hall | 5/18 | 2007 |
| Australia | Glenn McGrath | 7/15 | 2003 |
| Australia | Glenn McGrath | 5/14 | 1999 |
| Zimbabwe | Paul Strang | 5/21 | 1996 |
| South Africa | Meyrick Pringle | 4/11 | 1992 |
| Australia | Craig McDermott | 5/44 | 1987 |
| West Indies | Winston Davis | 7/51 | 1983 |
| Australia | Alan Hurst | 5/21 | 1979 |
| Australia | Gary Gilmour | 6/14 | 1975 |
Best Bowling Figures in ODI History: All Players Runs and Wickets
| Position | Player | Overs | Wickets/Runs | Economy | Opposition | Match Date |
| 1 | Glenn McGrath (Australia) | 7.0 | 7/15 | 2.14 | Namibia | 27 Feb 2003 |
| 2 | Andy Bichel (Australia) | 10.0 | 7/20 | 2.00 | England | 02 Mar 2003 |
| 3 | Tim Southee (New Zealand) | 9.0 | 7/33 | 3.66 | England | 20 Feb 2015 |
| 4 | Winston Davis (West Indies) | 10.3 | 7/51 | 4.85 | Australia | 11 Jun 1983 |
| 5 | Mohammed Shami (India) | 9.5 | 7/57 | 5.79 | New Zealand | 15 Nov 2023 |
| 6 | Gary Gilmour (Australia) | 12.0 | 6/14 | 1.16 | England | 18 Jun 1975 |
| 7 | Ashish Nehra (India) | 10.0 | 6/23 | 2.30 | England | 26 Feb 2003 |
| 8 | Shane Bond (New Zealand) | 10.0 | 6/23 | 2.30 | Australia | 11 Mar 2003 |
| 9 | Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka) | 9.1 | 6/25 | 2.72 | Bangladesh | 14 Feb 2003 |
| 10 | Kemar Roach (West Indies) | 8.3 | 6/27 | 3.17 | Netherlands | 28 Feb 2011 |
| 11 | Mitchell Starc (Australia) | 9.0 | 6/28 | 3.11 | New Zealand | 28 Feb 2015 |
| 12 | Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan) | 9.1 | 6/35 | 3.81 | Bangladesh | 05 Jul 2019 |
| 13 | Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) | 7.4 | 6/38 | 4.95 | Kenya | 01 Mar 2011 |
| 14 | Ken MacLeay (Australia) | 11.5 | 6/39 | 3.29 | India | 13 Jun 1983 |
| 15 | Glenn McGrath (Australia) | 8.4 | 5/14 | 1.61 | West Indies | 30 May 1999 |
| 16 | Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) | 8.0 | 5/16 | 2.00 | Kenya | 23 Feb 2011 |
| 17 | Andrew Hall (South Africa) | 10.0 | 5/18 | 1.80 | England | 17 Apr 2007 |
| 18 | Mohammed Shami (India) | 5 | 5/18 | 3.60 | Sri Lanka | 02 Nov 2023 |
| 19 | Alan Hurst (Australia) | 10.0 | 5/21 | 2.10 | Canada | 16 Jun 1979 |
| 20 | Paul Strang (Zimbabwe) | 9.4 | 5/21 | 2.17 | Kenya | 27 Feb 1996 |
FAQs
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Who holds the best bowling figures in ODI World Cup history?
The best bowling figures in ODI World Cup history are held by Glenn McGrath of Australia, with an outstanding performance of 7 wickets for just 15 runs against Namibia in the 2003 World Cup.
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Which Indian bowler has the best figures in an ODI World Cup match?
Mohammad Shami holds the best bowling figures by an Indian in an ODI World Cup match. He took 7 wickets for 57 runs against New Zealand in the 2023 World Cup semi-final.
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How many bowlers have taken seven-wicket hauls in ODI World Cup history?
Only five bowlers have achieved the remarkable feat of taking a seven-wicket haul in ODI World Cup history: Glenn McGrath, Andy Bichel, Tim Southee, Winston Davis, and Mohammad Shami.
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Who is the leading wicket-taker in ODI World Cup history?
Glenn McGrath is the leading wicket-taker in ODI World Cup history, with a total of 71 wickets across his World Cup appearances.
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