A lack of support from other players, could make a brilliant bowling display, and end up in a losing cause. We will now have a look at the best bowling figures in losing cause in ODIs.
10. Chris Mpofu (2008)
Zimbabwe faced Kenya in this match. This game was a part of a triangular series, including Ireland. Kenya batted first, and managed to score 285 runs despite Chirs Mpofu’s six-wicket haul. In return, Zimbabwe could not muster much, as they got all out for 190. Chris Mpofu had bowling figures of 6-52 in the match.
9. Tony Gray (1991)
West Indies hosted Australia in this ODI. The game lost overs due to rain, and hence, it was scheduled to be 34 overs each team. Australia batted first, and the West Indies bowler Tony Gray, managed to take wickets, when the others could not. However, he was pretty expensive. Australia scored 172, and won by 45 runs. Tony Gray had bowling figures of 6-50 in the match.
8. Chris Woakes (2011)
England toured Australia for a seven-match ODI series. This was the fifth game, with Australia leading the series 3-1 before the game. Hence, this was a must-win game for England. Australia batted first, and England managed to bowl them out for 249, due to Woakes’ six-wicket haul. However, the target proved unattainable for England, as they lost by 51 runs. Chris Woakes had bowling figures of 6-45 in the match.
7. Ajit Agarkar (2004)
The Australian team was a dominating force in the 2000s. India had to face them in this game. Australia batted first, and they scored 288 despite Ajit Agarkar taking a six-wicket haul. However, this proved enough, as India lost the match by 18 runs. Ajit Agarkar had bowling figures of 6-42 in the game.
6. Dale Steyn (2013)
South Africa hosted Pakistan in this game. Rain reduced the match to 45 overs-a-side game. Steyn produced his best ODI bowling figures in his six-wicket haul, and yet, Pakistan scored 262. South Africa, in their reply, batted well, and brought the equation to, 11 runs required off 12 balls. From there, they inexplicably choked, scoring only five runs from the following 11 balls. Needing six to win off the last ball, the four leg byes they got, were insufficient, as they lost by one run. Dale Steyn had bowling figures of 6-39 in the match.
5. Shaun Pollock (1999)
West Indies toured South Africa for an ODI series. In this game, West Indies batted first. They scored well and scored big, despite Shaun Pollock’s six-wicket haul. South Africa eventually lost the match by a considerable margin of 43 runs. Shaun Pollock had bowling figures of 6-35 in the game.
4. Zahoor Khan (2017)
Zahoor Khan is a UAE bowler. He managed to achieve a six-wicket haul in this ODI match. However, Ireland had a comfortable game throughout. They scored 270, bowled out UAE for 185, and won the game by a significant margin of 85 runs. Zahoor Khan had bowling figures of 6-34 in the game.
3. Mitchell Starc (2015)
This game was a part of the group stage of the ICC World Cup 2015. This game was a brilliant low-scoring thriller. Australia batted first and got skittled out for just 151. In reply, New Zealand was coasting at 78-1. However, when Brendon McCullum’s wicket fell, it triggered a magnificent collapse. Starc was on a roll that day, piling up wickets and inducing collapses. He almost won Australia the game, but New Zealand managed a close victory by one wicket. Mitchell Starc had bowling figures of 6-28 in the match.
2. Shane Bond (2003)
This game was a part of the 2003 World Cup. Australia had a dominant run in the World Cup, and this match was no different. Australia won the game by 96 runs. However, the New Zealand bowler Shane Bond, shined with his performance, taking a six-wicket haul. Shane Bond had bowling figures of 6-23 in the match.
1. Imran Khan (1985)
This game was a part of the quadrangular series, Rothmans Four-Nation Cup. Pakistan faced India in the match. The game was an extremely low scoring one, with India getting bowled out for just 125, thanks to Imran Khan’s six wickets. In reply, Pakistan got bowled out for 87. Imran Khan had bowling figures of 6-14 in the match.
