New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra and Trent Boult share 3 of the 7 best bowling figures in MLC, USA
As a general rule, T20 cricket is the domain of batsmen. It’s the batsmen that fans fill stadia to see, it’s sixes and boundaries that are celebrated, and it’s the batters who are the players little kids like to emulate.
As much as they are critical to the game, bowlers are run fodder — like goalkeepers in football, their achievements not celebrated in quite the same way as those of strikers. But bowling performances are as important when it comes to winning matches as batting performances, if not more important.
With that in mind, let’s look back over the last two years of Major League Cricket and reflect on the best bowling performances seen in the league. While the list of top scoring batsmen is made up entirely of overseas players, the best bowling figures belong to an American.
Here are the seven best bowling returns in MLC history.
7. Trent Boult (MI New York) – 4 for 20 vs Washington Freedom, 2023
The New Zealand left-arm speedster was at his best during this crucial clash in MLC’s debut season. Boult’s trademark swing, particularly with the new ball, proved far too good for Washington Freedom’s top order.
He struck early and returned at the death to remove the tail, ending with 4 for 20 from his four overs. It was a vintage Boult performance: aggressive, accurate, and utterly destructive when it mattered most.
This spell helped MI New York secure an important victory en route to their eventual title triumph.
6. Rachin Ravindra (Washington Freedom) – 4 for 16 vs Texas Super Kings, 2024
In a season that saw the rise of young talents and smart overseas picks, Rachin Ravindra stood tall for Washington Freedom – featuring as much as a bowler as he did as a batsman.
The New Zealand all-rounder showcased his underrated left-arm spin with a terrific 4 for 16 against the Texas Super Kings. His clever variations, combined with excellent control, stifled the Super Kings’ momentum through the middle overs.
It was a key moment in Washington’s 2024 campaign and a performance that underlined Rachin’s value as a three-dimensional cricketer.
5. Mohammad Mohsin (Texas Super Kings) – 4 for 13 vs San Francisco Unicorns, 2024
One of the most consistent spin options in MLC so far, Pakistan’s Mohammad Mohsin had a field day against a powerful San Francisco Unicorns line-up. Bowling with guile and precision, Mohsin tore through the middle order to finish with figures of 4 for 13.
It was a textbook example of middle-overs strangulation, where every dot ball added pressure and eventually led to wickets. Mohsin’s spell flipped the game in Texas’ favour and reaffirmed the importance of smart spin bowling in T20 cricket.
4. Rachin Ravindra (Washington Freedom) – 4 for 11 vs San Francisco Unicorns, 2024
Ravindra makes his second appearance on this list — and deservedly so. Just weeks after his excellent showing against Texas, he turned it up a notch against the Unicorns. Finishing with a stunning 4 for 11, Ravindra sliced through a strong batting unit with deceptive flight and subtle changes in pace.
It was an all-round spin masterclass, and his control over line and length gave the batters no room to manoeuvre. Washington Freedom cruised to victory, with Ravindra’s bowling the centrepiece of the performance.
3. Mohammad Mohsin (Texas Super Kings) – 4 for 8 vs Los Angeles Knight Riders, 2023
Mohsin’s best ever MLC figures came during the inaugural season against a struggling Los Angeles Knight Riders side.
In what was an absolute rout, Mohsin snatched 4 wickets for just 8 runs, completely dismantling the middle order. The Knight Riders had no answers to his relentless accuracy and clever angles.
It was one of the most economical four-wicket hauls seen in franchise cricket anywhere, and it confirmed Mohsin’s reputation as a match-winner for Texas.
2. Wayne Parnell (Seattle Orcas) – 5 for 20 vs Texas Super Kings, 2023
In a tournament often dominated by batters, South Africa‘s Wayne Parnell’s five-wicket haul was a standout display of pace bowling. The experienced Proteas quick used his variations superbly, mixing up yorkers, slower balls and sharp bouncers to claim 5 wickets against a potent Texas Super Kings line-up.
His performance helped derail Texas’ innings and paved the way for a comfortable win for the Orcas. Parnell’s performance remains the only five-wicket haul by a non-American in MLC history.
1. Saurabh Netravalkar (Washington Freedom) – 6 for 9 vs San Francisco Unicorns, 2023
Topping the charts — and with good reason — is Saurabh Netravalkar’s jaw-dropping 6 for 9. The USA international delivered the greatest bowling performance in Major League Cricket history during the 2023 season against the Unicorns.
His spell was fast, furious and pinpoint — a demolition job that left San Francisco stunned. Netravalkar swung the ball both ways, bowled deadly straight lines, and dismissed top, middle, and lower order batters in a clinical burst.
It was the first six-wicket haul in the league and remains the benchmark for bowling excellence in American T20 cricket. A true landmark performance by a homegrown hero.
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