While every cricketer, be it a batsman or bowler is expected to perform exceptionally well not just in home conditions but elsewhere in the world as well, there are a few players, who thrive when they play at a particular venue. Their style of play does suit the conditions that exist at the venue and thus, we have witnessed tremendous success against their name playing on the very ground with a plethora of wickets.
Oppositions don’t seem to matter to them then and these successful outings before provide them with enough confidence to put up a stellar display every time they step on the ground. This article particularly focuses on the bowlers, who pulled off remarkable performances at their favourite venue. In the below piece, we look at 5 bowlers, who picked the most number of wickets on a single ground in ODI cricket:
1. Wasim Akram: 122 wickets at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
A terrific left-arm seam bowler, Akram enjoyed unbelievable success at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium. He dismissed 122 batsmen from 77 games at an average of 19.50 and an economy rate of 3.55 at this venue.
His best figures on this ground came against the Windies during the 2nd game of the Champions Trophy, 1989. Put into bat first, Pakistan posted a competitive total of 250-8 in their 50 overs on the back of a wonderful innings of 74(81) by Malik and 45(41) by Khan. Ian Bishop was the most effective among the Windies bowlers, finishing with figures of 3-49.
In reply, the Windies were bowled out for 239 in 48.4 overs, reaching there owing to knocks of 59(94) by Haynes and 53(68) by Best. Akram was deadly accurate with his left-arm pace, ending the game with figures of 5-38 and helping his side beat the opposition by 11 runs.
2. Shakib-Al-Hasan: 119 wickets at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka
Considered the greatest Bangladeshi cricketer in its long cricketing history, Shakib made merry bowling at the Shere Bangla Cricket Stadium, Dhaka. His record speaks for itself where the bowler has struck 119 wickets from 82 games at an average of 24 and an economy rate of 4.04.
His best performance on this ground came against Zimbabwe during the 1st ODI in 2015. Batting first on their home turf, Bangladesh posted a commanding total of 273-9 in their 50 overs, courtesy innings of 107(109) by Rahim and 57(58) by Rahman. Part-time spinner, Raza was effective with the ball, picking up 2-47.
In response, the visitors were decimated for just 128 in 36.1 overs as Shakib ran riot with the ball in hand, scalping 5-47 and assisting his side in clinching the encounter by a humongous margin of 145 runs.
3. Waqar Younis: 114 wickets at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
One who possessed rip-roaring pace and was known for dismantling opposition line-ups, Younis too had his moments bowling at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. He got rid of 114 batters from 61 games at an average of 20.17 and an economy rate of 4.58 at this venue.
His best spell here came against the Lankans during the 5th game of the Austral-Asia Cup, 1990. Pakistan while batting first, posted a daunting total of 311-8 on the board, owing to great innings of 89(64) by Ahmed and 75(85) by Miandad.
Younis, who enjoyed a rich vein of form during that particular series, destroyed the opposition line-up for a score of 221 in 47.4 overs, picking up 6-26. Pakistan rightly came on top by a whopping margin of 90 runs and extended their dominance in the multi-nation tournament.
4. Mashrafe Mortaza: 94 wickets at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka
The former skipper of the Bangladeshi team, Mortaza left a stellar impact behind performing at this very venue. He picked 94 wickets from 64 games at an average of 23.80 and an economy rate of 4.30 on this ground.
His most memorable performance at this venue came against England during the 2nd ODI in 2016. Put into bat first, Bangladesh posted a tricky total of 238-8 in their 50 overs on the back of a beautiful innings of 75(88) by Mahmudullah and 44(29) by Mortaza. Woakes was impressive with the ball with figures of 2-40.
In an unexpected turn of events, England were skittled out for 204 in 44.4 overs, losing the contest by a convincing margin of 34 runs. Mortaza, the skipper of the side, led the proceedings with the ball in hand as well, snapping 4-29.
5. Muttiah Muralitharan: 82 wickets at Sharjah Cricket Stadium
This legendary off-spinner from Sri Lanka often spun a vicious web around the batsmen while in action at this particular venue. The veteran spinner scalped 82 wickets from 45 games at an average of 17.73 and an economy rate of 3.49 on this ground.
His best show at the venue came against India during the 6th game of the Coca-Cola Champions Trophy, 2000-01. Sri Lanka, who batted first, posted a massive total of 294-5 in their 50 overs, courtesy centuries from Jayawardene and Atapattu, who chronicled 128(123) and 102(111) respectively. Agarkar was the lone wicket-taker for India, with figures of 3-48.
It was a tough chase for India and Muralitharan’s unplayable spin made matters all the more worse for the opposition, who were bowled out for 226 in 48.5 overs and handed Sri Lanka a victory by 68 runs. It was an exemplary spell of spin-bowling from the maestro himself, who galloped 7-30 in his 10 overs.
