Where does Shaheen Afridi’s 6-for rank among the best bowling figures in T20 Blast history?
The T20 Blast has seen some truly staggering bowling performances over the years, with bowlers unleashing devastating spells that have turned games on their heads.
As England’s premier domestic T20 league, fans have been treated to their fair share of incredible individual performances.
From club legends to globetrotting T20 stars, who are the 9 players with the best bowling figures in the history of the Blast?
9. Paul Collingwood – 5/6 vs Northants
Collingwood produced one of the most economical five-wicket hauls ever seen in cricket as he conceded just six runs for Durham in 2011.
His three-over spell went at just two an over as he ripped the opposition apart in front of a bouncing Chester-le-Street crowd.
He bowled medium pace but was clever with his variations in a career where he led England to ICC World T20 glory in 2010.
8. James Fuller – 6/28 vs Hampshire
Fuller is an all-rounder known for his aggression with bat and ball which was shown as he rattled Hampshire’s batters with his express pace.
Despite not being the most economical bowler on the list, his ability to extract pace and bounce made him unplayable in 2018.
He plays most of his cricket in England but was born in South Africa and represented the Western Province.
7. Tim Murtagh – 6/24 vs Middlesex
A true opening bowler, Murtagh starred across all formats with his accurate and disciplined swing bowling.
His smart bowling made him dangerous at the Home of Cricket in 2005 as he ripped through the Lord’s based county to give Surrey victory.
Murtagh’s Irish heritage meant he represented his country in all formats of the game.
6. Andrew Hall – 6/21 vs Worcestershire
The South Africa seamer’s ruthless bowling was huge for Northants in 2008 with him tearing the opposition apart in Northamptonshire.
His tidy 3.4 overs at an economy of 5.72 allowed the opposing time no time to settle as he secured his side a crucial victory.
Hall’s knack for taking wickets under pressure and leading by example was backed up by his white-ball captaincy for South Africa.
=5. Shaheen Shah Afridi – 6/19 vs Middlesex
Pakistan‘s biggest bowling asset, Afridi has been successful wherever he’s played in the competitive world of franchise cricket.
His deadly combination of raw pace and swing helped Hampshire dismantle Middlesex along with a stunning four-wicket maiden over.
Afridi is no stranger to taking wickets by the bucketload as he was the youngest player to take a five-wicket haul in a World Cup match at the age of 19.
=5. Tim Bresnan – 6/19 vs Lancashire
Bresnan was a handy all-rounder for Yorkshire who regularly delivered red-hot bowling performances at Headingley.
In a ‘Battle of the Roses’ Blast contest, he dismantled the local rivals with a mixture of short balls and length bowling in front of a jubilant home crowd.
This performance in 2017 showed that he was still at the top of his game after a scintillating Ashes showing for England seven years prior.
3. Tim Southee – 6/16 vs Glamorgan
One of New Zealand‘s greatest bowling servants, Southee wowed the home crowd in Chelmsford as he took six wickets at an economy of just four.
The Essex man oozed class during his T20 Blast stint with his pace and movement of the ball in both directions.
But it wasn’t just his bowling that revels the crowd in awe – Southee once hit six sixes in an over.
2. Arul Suppiah – 6/5 vs Glamorgan
Perhaps the most staggering figures in the list, Suppiah’s Blast stint for Somerset was mesmerising with his left-arm spin.
His remarkable skill and variations reaped havoc away from home in Cardiff as he was simply unplayable on the day with an economy of just 1.36.
Despite being one of the few Malaysian players to play domestic cricket in England, he very much left his mark.
1. Colin Ackermann – 7/18 vs Birmingham
Ackermann’s spell of 7/18 remains the greatest bowling performance in T20 Blast history.
His bamboozling off-spin was unpredictable as he took advantage of conditions for Leicestershire and sent seven disgruntled batters back to the sheds.
At the time in 2019, his figures were the best of any T20 match worldwide.