Just like a batsman dreams of hitting a purple patch, scoring centuries for fun, bowlers crave for limelight grabbing fifers. While the job is slightly easier when it comes to operating with the red-ball, it takes a whole lot from a bowler to deliver good performances with the white-ball. Barring the initial powerplay overs, a bowler hardly finds any help from an old, softened white-ball. The conditions of the ball make it easier for a batsman to garner hefty runs at the backend of an innings and propel the eventual total to an imposing one.
Inspite of all these factors being evident, there were some bowlers, who used it to their advantage and scalped plenty of wickets in the team’s favour. They picked many five-wicket hauls over the course of their long career and assisted their side in winning crucial encounters. In the below piece, we look at 5 such bowlers, who took the most consecutive five-wicket hauls in ODI cricket:
1. Waqar Younis – 3
Known for his reverse-swing and toe-crushing yorkers, Younis initiated this wonderful bowling streak against the Kiwis during the 2nd ODI at Peshawar on 4th November 1990. Owing to his great spell of 5-11, New Zealand were bowled out for 127 and later had to face the ignominy of a loss as Pakistan chased it down by 8 wickets and 65 balls to spare.
His 2nd fifer came 2 days later against the same Kiwi side during the 3rd ODI at Sialkot on 6th November 1990. The Kiwis, who were chasing a total of 224 set by the hosts, were skittled out for 118 in 25 overs, losing the contest by a gargantuan margin of 105 runs. Younis yet again stole the limelight with figures of 5-16.
The 3rd consecutive one came against a touring Windies side during the 1st ODI at Karachi on 9th November 1990. Having set a target of 212 to chase from 40 overs, the visitors could only manage 205-7 in their full quota of overs, going down to Pakistan by just 6 runs. Younis was the pick of the bowler this time around as well, ending the game with figures of 5-52.
2. Gary Gilmour – 2
A left-arm swing bowler from Australia, Gilmour accomplished the first of his 2 fifers against England during the 1st semi-final of the Prudential World Cup, 1975 at Leeds. England while batting first could manage a meagre 93 from their 60 overs as Gilmour worked his magic for the Oz with figures of 6-14.
Australia in reply, chased the total down by 4 wickets and more than 31 overs to spare where yet again, Gilmour caught attention with his contribution of 28(28). The speedster‘s next fifer came against the Windies during the final of the Prudential World Cup, 1975 at Lord’s. Windies, who batted first, posted a competitive total of 291-8 in their 60 overs on the back of a brilliant century by Lloyd. Gilmour was impressive for the Aussies with figures of 5-48.
The total as it turned out, was too hot to handle for the Aussies, who lost the contest by 17 runs and had to do away with an opportunity of lifting the trophy for the first time.
3. Ashantha de Mel – 2
This pacer from Sri Lanka achieved the feat firstly against Pakistan during the 15th match of the Prudential World Cup, 1983 at Leeds. Pakistan owing to a gritty 102(133) by Imran Khan and 77(126) by Mahboob could post 235-7 in their 60 overs. De Mel was the pick of the bowler for the Lankans with figures of 5-39.
Unfortunately, Sri Lanka could only manage 224 in 58.3 overs, falling short of the Pakistani total by just 11 runs. De Mel did showcase his prowess with the bat, smashing 17(19). His next fifer came against the Kiwis during the 18th match of the Prudential World Cup, 1983 at Derby.
Courtesy de Mel’s excellent figures of 5-32, New Zealand were bundled out for 181 in their first innings. Later the Lankans chased it down by 3 wickets and 43 balls to spare on the back of a fighting knock of 64(101) by Dias and 62(120) by Kuruppu.
4. Waqar Younis – 2
Younis once again features in this list but for a performance pulled off in the year 1990. His first of the 2 fifers came against the Lankans during the 5th game of the Austral-Asia Cup, 1990 at Sharjah. Batting first, Pakistan posted a massive total of 311-8 on the board, owing to Miandad’s 75(85) and Ahmed’s 89(64).
As expected, the target was way enough for the Lankans to get any near, who were decimated for 221 in 47.4 overs. Younis was the star with the ball, picking up 6-26 to help his side win by 90 runs. The next and the last of the lot was produced against the Kiwis during the 1st semi-final of the Austral-Asia Cup, 1990 at Sharjah.
Owing to Younis’s mind-boggling spell of 5-20, New Zealand were demolished for a mere 74 in their allotted 50 overs. The total can never be enough even against the weakest of side and it proved to be a cakewalk for Pakistan, who chased the target down by 8 wickets and 206 balls to spare to advance into the final.
5. Aaqib Javed – 2
This right-arm medium pacer from Pakistan achieved the landmark against Sri Lanka during the 2nd game of the Pepsi Independence Cup, 1997 at Gwalior. Batting first, Pakistan managed a commanding total of 289-6 in their 50 overs on the back of an aggressive innings of 52(29) by Afridi.
Given the Pakistani bowling might, the Lankans could only reach 259 in 49.5 overs, losing the contest by 30 runs. Javed was the pick of the bowler with figures of 5-35. His 2nd fifer came against India during the 6th game of the same series at Chennai.
Owing to Anwar’s marathon innings of 194(146), Pakistan posted a huge total of 327-5 in their 50 overs, which was enough to halt a strong Indian batting line-up, who lost the encounter by 35 runs. Javed was yet again the shining light with the ball, scalping 5-61.
