In a cricket match, there is a constant battle of wits between the bowler and the batter. In T20I cricket, this battle is a short and quick one. A batter has to constantly take risks to score runs and get the job done for his/her team. Sometimes these risks fetch the batter quick runs while sometimes he loses his wicket. Some bowlers in the history of T20I cricket were brilliant in exploiting this situation and choking runs. Let us have a glance at the Top 10 Best Economy Rates (minimum 2 overs) In Men’s T20 World Cup Match-

1. Nuwan Kulasekara (0.00)

In 2014, a match was played between the Netherlands and Sri Lanka in Chittagong. Sri Lanka won the toss and rightly chose to bowl first. they bowled brilliantly to restrict the Netherlands to only 39. This was the lowest ever score in Men’s T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Kulasekara took only one wicket. But he recorded the extraordinary figures of 2-2-0-1.

2. Rangana Herath (0.85)

Exactly after a week after Kulasekara bowled with an economy of 0, Sri Lanka met New Zealand in a virtual quarter-final of the 2014 T20 World Cup. New Zealand decided to bowl first. Sri Lanka couldn’t score as much as they would’ve liked. They folded on only 119. It was a brilliant opportunity for the Kiwis to seal their spot in the semi-final. But Rangana Herath bowled a brilliant spell of 5/3 in 3.3 overs at an economy rate of 0.85 to shoot New Zealand on 60.

3. Adil Rashid (0.85)

This was the second match of the super-league stage of the 2021 edition. In this match in Dubai, England chose to field first against the defending champions West Indies. West Indies struggled to pick the English bowlers. Adil Rashid bowled 2.2 overs and took 4 wickets for 2 runs at an economy rate of 0.85. West Indies was dismissed for only 55. England won the match by 6 wickets.

4. Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1.00)

In 2014, India played against the defending champions West Indies in Dhaka. India won the toss and chose to chase the target. West Indies batters found it difficult to score runs and ended up posting 129/7. India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar bowled 3 overs but didn’t pick any wicket. But his economical spell yielded only 3 runs at a rate of 1 run per over. India chased down the target successfully and won the match by 7 wickets.

5. Sachithra Senanayake (1.00)

In the match in which Rangana Herath denied New Zealand a semi-final spot in the 2014 edition, Sachithra Senanayake, too, made a crucial contribution. He gave only 3 runs in 3 overs at a rate of 1 run per over and picked up 2 wickets. His spell amplified the pressure Herath had applied on the Kiwi batters. Sri Lanka prevailed by 59 runs to book a semi-final spot.

6. Ajantha Mendis (2.00)

Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis is one of the best spinners ever to have played T20I cricket. The opening match of the 2012 edition was between Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in Hambantota (Sri Lanka). The Sri Lankans smashed the Zimbabwean bowlers to post 182/4 runs in 20 overs. In reply, Ajantha Mendis stamped his authority with the ball. In 4 overs, he gave away just 8 runs, bowled 2 maidens, and picked up 6 wickets at an economy rate of 2.

7. Mahmudullah (2.00)

It was the first match of the 2014 T20 World Cup. Afghanistan clashed against the hosts Bangladesh in Mirpur. Bangladesh asked Afghanistan to bat first after winning the toss. Shakib al Hasan picked up 3 wickets for 8 runs. He was ably supported by Mahmudullah who bowled 4 overs, gave 8 runs (economy rate of 2.00), and picked up the wicket of Shafiqullah. Afghanistan was dismissed for 72. Bangladesh won the match by 9 wickets.

8. Umar Gul (2.00)

Pakistan and New Zealand clashed in a Super 8 Group F match in 2009 at Kennington Oval in London. The Kiwis won the toss and chose to bat first. But their decision didn’t pay off as Pakistan’s Umar Gul ran through their batting line-up to bowl them out for only 99. Gul became the first-ever bowler to take a 5-wicket haul in T20I cricket. Pakistan chased down the target in 13.1 overs and won by 6 wickets.

9. Dale Steyn (2.00)

Afghanistan played against South Africa in 2010 in Bridgetown. They won the toss and chose to field first. Afghan bowlers were all over the Proteas. Hamid Hasan took 3 wickets to restrict South Africa on 139/7. But the South African bowlers didn’t let their opponents win the game. Morne Morkel took 4 wickets, Charl Langeveldt took 3 while Dale Steyn took 2 wickets at an economy rate of 2.00. Steyn bowled 3 overs and gave away only 6 runs.

10. Samit Patel (2.00)

In the 2012 edition, England clashed with Afghanistan in Colombo (Premadasa). Luke Wright’s 99* powered England to 196/5. Afghanistan’s run chase never got going as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. All the English bowlers stepped up and dismissed Afghanistan for just 80. Samit Patel bowled 3 overs, gave only 6 runs, and took 2 wickets.