As many as 646 wickets were picked up by bowlers in the group stage of the World Cup, with pacers bagging 416 and spinners 230.
Here are five best spells from 45 matches of the league phase:
Mohammed Shami 5/18 v Sri Lanka, Mumbai, November 2
Were it not for Hardik Pandya’s injury against Bangladesh, it would have perhaps been tough for Shami to break into the star-studded India playing XI where the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja are guaranteed starters alongside the injured all-rounder. And Shami grabbed the opportunity with both hands. The right-arm speedster reserved his best for Sri Lanka, against whom he put in a mesmerizing spell of fast bowling, notching a five-for leaking only 18 runs from five overs.
Paul van Meekeren 4/23 v Bangladesh, Kolkata, October 28
The right-arm pace bowler was at his scintillating best as the Tigers faced the music against the Netherlands attack. The former Uber Eats employee took 4/23 in 7.2 overs to inspire the Dutch to a stunning victory and among his scalps included skipper Shakib al Hasan, Mr Dependable Mushfiqur Rahim and vice captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto, all of whom he sent back for single digit scores.
Adam Zampa 3/21 v England, Ahmedabad, November 4
Currently the highest wicket-taker of this World Cup with 22 scalps, Zampa was at his miserly best against their old enemies. Not only did the leg-spinner finish with excellent figure of 3/21 from his quota of 10 overs, he also did not concede a single boundary against Jos Buttler’s side. Truly astonishing bowling by Lazarus.
Marco Jansen 3/31 v New Zealand, Pune, November 14
The tall left-arm paceman has been among the wickets throughout the group stage, and it was no different against the Kiwis. Like the other pitches, Jansen extracted bounce from the surface and returned with figure of 3/31 from his eight overs, including the important wicket of the in-form Rachin Ravindra.
Rashid Khan 3/37 v England, Delhi, October 15
Rashid was one of the chief architects as Afghanistan scripted a memorable win over world champions England. His 3/37 from 9.3 overs helped his side defend 284 and he put paid to any England hopes of a miraculous comeback by cleaning up the tail, besides dismissing the dangerous Liam Livingstone earlier.
