ODI World Cup – 5 Most Expensive Spells

Bowlers have their off days in cricket. While many go wicketless, a few of them have been taken to the cleaners and have set unwanted records. Being thrashed by batters in the World Cup is the worst nightmare for any bowler.

Let us look at the most expensive spells in ODI World Cup history.

5 Expensive Spells in ODI World Cup

The most expensive bowling figures’ record is in the name of the Netherlands all-rounder Bas de Leede, who was taken to the cleaners by Australian batters in the World Cup 2023 league stage clash in Delhi. The remaining players in the top five list include Rashid Khan, New Zealand medium-pacer Martin Snedden, Jason Holder, and Afghanistan’s Dawlat Zadran.

Most Expensive Bowling Spells in World Cup (Top 5)

Player	Bowling Figures	Opposition	Year
Bas de Leede	10-0-115-2	Australia	2023
Rashid Khan	9-0-110-0	England	2019
Martin Snedden	12-1-105-2	England	1983
Jason Holder	10-2-104-1	South Africa	2015
Dawlat Zadran	10-1-101-2	Australia	2015

Let’s take a look at the five most expensive spells in the ODI World Cup:

Bas de Leede – 2/115

Netherlands’ Bas de Leede found himself in the firing zone against Australia in the 2023 World Cup group stage match. The fast bowler had leaked more than eight runs per over in his first six overs and removed Marnus Labuschagne and Josh Inglis. However, Glenn Maxwell was just warming up and put de Leede to the sword. The Dutch all-rounder conceded 64 off his next four overs, which included five sixes and a couple of fours. The 115/2 in ten overs is the most expensive spell in World Cup history.

Rashid Khan – 0/110

England met Afghanistan in the 2019 World Cup league stage game at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. Eoin Morgan went on a rampage against Afghanistan bowlers. Rashid Khan was at the receiving end of the brutal hitting by the former England captain. He conceded 11 sixes in the match and didn’t complete his full quota of overs. The T20 specialist leaked 110 runs and became the fourth bowler in World Cup history to concede 100 runs in an innings.

Martin Snedden – 2/105

New Zealand medium pacer Martin Snedden is the first player in World Cup history to concede more than 100 runs. Against England in the 1983 World Cup group stage fixture, New Zealand was asked to bowl first. England batter Allan Lamb targeted the then 24-year-old Snedden, who was smashed to all parts of the ground. The Kiwi bowler conceded 105 runs at the end of his quota of 12 overs. Snedden’s unwanted record stood for nearly 32 years before being broken by Jason Holder in 2015. 

Jason Holder – 1/104

West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder had one of those games to forget in the 2015 World Cup. In West Indies’ group stage match against South Africa, Holder got thrashed by AB de Villiers and Rilee Rossouw. Holder’s final over went for 30 runs, which included four sixes and a boundary. The Caribbean cricketer finished with figures of 1/104, conceding six sixes and eight fours. It is the most expensive bowling figures by a West Indian in ODIs.

Dawlat Zadran – 2/101

The Afghanistan fast bowler was tormented by the likes of David Warner and Maxwell in the 2015 World Cup. Dawlat Zadran made an excellent start to Afghanistan’s group stage fixture against Australia by removing Aaron Finch early and conceding 27 off his first overs. However, Warner and Maxwell crushed him in the middle overs and the death overs. Zadan finished the match with figures of 2/101, 74 of which came in his last five overs.

Concluding Thoughts

ODI cricket can be very cruel to the bowlers, as can be seen from the above numbers. Rashid Khan has been one of the best spinners in T20 cricket, but in ODI cricket, he has taken some beating. The same was the case with Jason Holder, who was the skipper for the West Indies in that match but couldn’t stop himself from conceding so many runs as South Africa’s AB de Villers started firing on all cylinders.

Also Read: Most Successive ODI World Cup Wins While Chasing

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