ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Top 3 Memorable Bowling Spells in the T20 World Cup History

armaan-patra — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Sam Curran

In a format dominated by big hitters and soaring totals, it is uncommon for bowlers—especially overseas players—to seize the spotlight. Yet, throughout the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, several overseas bowlers have produced exceptional spells, using skill, variety, and tactical sharpness to unsettle batters in unfamiliar conditions.

This article revisits three of the greatest bowling performances by overseas bowlers in ICC T20 World Cup history—spells that defied the odds, turned matches decisively, and left a lasting imprint on the tournament’s grand stage.

1. Ajantha Mendis (3/9 vs Zimbabwe, 2012 T20 World Cup)

Ajantha Mendis produced a spell for the ages during the 2012 T20 World Cup, dismantling Zimbabwe with extraordinary figures of 6 for 8. Chasing 183, Zimbabwe had begun steadily before Mendis completely turned the game on its head.

Introduced in the sixth over, the mystery spinner struck twice in two balls, triggering a dramatic collapse. He went on to remove Hamilton Masakadza, Elton Chigumbura, Prosper Utseya, and Kyle Jarvis, sealing one of the most memorable bowling performances in T20 World Cup history.

2. Sunil Narine (3/9 vs Sri Lanka, 2012 T20 World Cup)

Sunil Narine produced a match-winning spell in the 2012 T20 World Cup final against Sri Lanka, playing a decisive role in the West Indies’ title triumph. Defending a modest total of 138 in front of a hostile Colombo crowd, Narine used his mystery spin to apply relentless pressure on the hosts.

He returned outstanding figures of three wickets for just an economical nine runs in 3.4 overs, dismantling Sri Lanka’s chase with crucial breakthroughs. Narine removed Mahela Jayawardene, halted the resistance by dismissing the in-form Nuwan Kulasekara, and then sealed the contest by claiming the wicket of Lasith Malinga, delivering the final blow that secured West Indies a memorable victory.

3. Sam Curran (3/12 vs Pakistan, 2022 T20 World Cup)

England all-rounder Sam Curran delivered a match-winning spell in the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final against Pakistan at Melbourne. The left-arm pacer provided the early breakthrough by removing Mohammad Rizwan, setting the tone for England’s dominance with the ball.

Curran returned later to dismiss Shan Masood and Mohammad Nawaz, finishing with outstanding figures of 3 for 12 from four overs. His disciplined spell restricted Pakistan to 137/8, a total England chased down comfortably to secure a five-wicket victory and their second ICC T20 World Cup title.