Top five best bowling figures in ICC Champions Trophy history

Since its inception in 1998, the ICC Champions Trophy has experienced several changes over the years. The present format consists of eight teams organized into two groups of four, leading to semi-finals and a final to determine the champions.

Unlike the 50-over World Cup, where teams have a chance to bounce back after initial defeats, the Champions Trophy follows a much tighter format with fewer games, meaning a single loss in the group stage can lead to elimination.

Throughout the years, several bowlers have produced match-defining performances in the competition, leading their teams to remarkable victories. 

In this article, let’s look at the top five bowling figures in the history of the ICC Champions Trophy.

5. Mervyn Dillon – 5/29 vs Bangladesh, 2004, Southampton

West Indies fast bowler Mervyn Dillon showcased an exceptional performance for the Caribbean team during their group stage encounter against Bangladesh in the ICC Champions Trophy 2004 held in Southampton.

Defending 269, Dillon kept the West Indies in the contest with a brilliant spell of 5/29 in his quota of 10 overs. He dismissed three of the top four Bangladesh batters. As a result of his outstanding contribution, the West Indies secured victory by a margin of 138 runs.

4. Makhaya Ntini – 5/21 vs Pakistan, 2006, Mohali

Makhaya Ntini registered a five-wicket haul against Pakistan at Mohali in the ICC Champions Trophy 2006.

Batting first, South Africa posted a competitive total of 213 runs, thanks to Mark Boucher’s 69 off 98 balls. While defending this total, Ntini excelled for the Proteas, achieving figures of 5 wickets for 21 runs, which included the crucial wicket of Younis Khan. He was named Player of the Match for guiding South Africa to a 124-run win.

3. Shahid Afridi – 5/11 vs Kenya, 2004, Birmingham

Leg spinner Shahid Afridi claimed five wickets in the ICC Champions Trophy against Kenya in Birmingham.

Bowling first, Afridi's impressive figures of 5/11 enabled Pakistan to limit Kenya to just 94 runs. He received strong support from Shoaib Malik, who also took three wickets, effectively dismantling the Kenyan batting order. Thanks to Afridi’s brilliance, Pakistan won the game by seven wickets.

2. Josh Hazlewood – 6/52 vs New Zealand, 2017, Birmingham

Josh Hazlewood’s exceptional spell of 6/52 came against New Zealand in the group stage game of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. Bowling first, Australia faced the difficult challenge of limiting the runs scored by New Zealand's formidable batting order.

Hazlewood’s masterclass restricted the Kiwis to 291 runs. His victims included big names like Martin Guptill and James Neesham. The game ultimately ended without a result as rain interrupted the game after nine overs in Australia’s innings.

1. Farveez Maharoof – 6/14 vs West Indies, 2006, Brabourne

Former Sri Lanka fast bowler Farveez Maharoof holds the record for the best bowling figures in the Champions Trophy history. He registered figures of 6/14 in a qualifying match ICC Champions Trophy 2006 between Sri Lanka and West Indies in Brabourne.

His exceptional performance enabled Sri Lanka to dismiss the West Indies for a mere 80 runs in their first innings. His contributions included the crucial wickets of Brian Lara and Marlon Samuels. Sri Lanka won the match by nine wickets.

Cover Credits - ICC Champions Trophy