Every successful bowler in international cricket has credited his discipline for the feat achieved during his long career. They always believed that it is the process that they need to work on and the results would follow accordingly. The hard work put behind the scenes is the main reason for their success on the field. Their readiness to do the hard grind has made sure that their achievement isn’t short-lived but extended over a longer period of time. The nation has naturally benefited from their efforts, who picked plenty of five-fors during their career. This article particularly focusses on the four-wicket hauls that came their way. In the below piece, we look at 5 bowlers, who took the most consecutive four-wicket hauls in ODI cricket:
1. Narendra Hirwani – 3
A successful leg-spinner from India, Hirwani began his wicket-taking spree against the Kiwis during the 2
nd game of the Sharjah Cup in 1988. India, who batted first, posted 267-6 in their 50 overs, owing to Sidhu’s 88(98) and Amarnath’s 102(139). The total was a tricky one and Hirwani made sure that it remained one as he picked 4-43 to restrict the Kiwis to 194-8 in their 50 overs, winning the contest by 73 runs. His next four-fer came against the same Kiwi side but this time it was the big occasion of the final of Sharjah Cup, 1988. New Zealand, who were chasing 251 for victory, were halted at 198 in 45.3 overs, owing to a destructive spell from Hirwani, who scalped 4-46 and assisted India in winning the final by 52 runs. His third and the last four-wicket haul came against the Windies during the 1
st game of a Tri-Nation series in 1988 at Sharjah. Chasing 239 set by India in the first innings, Windies were bundled out for 215 in 48.3 overs, where both Sharma and Hirwani stood apart with spells of 5-26 and 4-50 respectively, helping their side beat the opposition by 23 runs.
2. Waqar Younis – 3
Just as Sachin Tendulkar’s name is inevitable when it comes to batting records, Younis too enjoys the same fate when we talk about the bowling charts. His first four-wicket haul of the lot came against India during the 3
rd game of the Austral-Asia Cup, 1990 at Sharjah. Defending 236 posted by Pakistan while batting first, Younis made the ball talk, picking 4-42 and dismantling India for a score of 209 in 46.3 overs, helping his side win by 26 runs. The next one came against Sri Lanka during the 5
th game of the Austral-Asia Cup, 1990 at Sharjah. Pakistan, having batted first, posted 311-8 in their 50 overs and later successfully defended it, owing to Younis’s 6-26, who stalled the Lankan chariot at 221 and played his part in Pakistan winning the contest by 90 runs. The last four-wicket haul came against the Kiwis during the 1
st semi-final of the Austral-Asia Cup, 1990 at Sharjah. Courtesy Younis’s destructive spell of 5-20, the Kiwis were bundled out for 74, who later went onto loss the contest as Pakistan chased it down by 8 wickets and 206 balls to spare, booking a berth in the final.
3. Shane Warne – 3
The legendary leg-spinner from Australia, Warne pulled off this feat starting from the 2
nd game of the Carlton and United Series against the Windies at Sydney in 1996. Windies, who chose to bat first, could manage just 161 in their 50 overs, owing to a wonderful exhibition of leg-spin bowling by Warne, who picked 5-33. The total was never going to be enough as the Aussies chased it down by 8 wickets and 48 balls to spare. Warne‘s second four-wicket haul came against Pakistan during the 3
rd game of the series at Adelaide. Owing to Warne’s effective bowling spell of 4-52, Pakistan were bowled out for 223 in the first innings. What transpired later left everyone surprised as Australia were restricted to 211 and lost the contest by 12 runs on their home turf. The third and the final four-wicket haul came against the same Pakistan side during the 5
th game of the series at Sydney. Chasing 200 for victory, Pakistan managed 203-6 in 45.3 overs, winning the contest by 4 wickets and 27 balls to spare. Though the result didn’t go in their favour, it took nothing away from Warne, who picked 4-37 and left a stellar impact behind.
4. Vasbert Drakes – 3
A right-arm express quick pacer from the Windies, Drakes accomplished the landmark during the tour of Bangladesh in 2002. Playing the 1
st ODI at Chattogram, Windies posted a competitive total of 275-7 in their 50 overs on the back of an innings of 88(50) by Powell. Unfortunately, the game couldn’t proceed towards the end as rain played a spoilsport, not before Bangladesh were reduced to 90-4 in 17 overs, with all of them going to Drakes, who finished with figures of 4-26. The next four-wicket haul came in the 2
nd ODI at Dhaka. Owing to Sarwan’s knock of 102(100) and Samuels’s 82(119), Windies posted a competitive 266-4 in their 50 overs, which proved to be way enough as the hosts were decimated for 182 and handed the visitors a win by 84 runs. Yet again,
Drakes was the showstopper with the ball, ending with figures of 4-18. The last of the lot arrived in the final ODI at Dhaka itself. Windies, who had posted a massive 281-5 in their 50 overs on the back of Gayle’s 73(90) and Samuels’s 77(101), exerted a lot of pressure on the hosts, who could only post 195-9 in reply, losing the contest by 86 runs. Drakes picked another four-fer, finishing the game and the series with figures of 4-33 and also earning the MOM and MOS awards.
5. Mohammed Shami – 3
India’s current go-to-pacer in search of wickets across all three formats,
Shami entered the list after performing exceptionally well at the ICC World Cup, 2019 in England. His first four-wicket haul came against Afghanistan during the 28
th game of the tournament. Having posted a tricky total of 224-8 in their 50 overs, India returned with a bang during their bowling innings, dismissing the opposition for 213 and winning the game by 11 runs. Shami picked a hat-trick in the process to end the game with figures of 4-40. His next game against the Windies during the 34
th game of the tournament. Managing a competitive total of 268-7 in their 50 overs, India, owing to a deadly spell from Shami, who picked 4-16, skittled out the Windies for a mere 143 and won the encounter by a whopping margin of 125 runs. The last and the most important four-wicket haul came against the hosts England during the 38
th game of the tournament. England, who at one stage looked set for a finish at a score over 350, were restricted to 337-7 in their 50 overs, predominantly owing to a wonderful spell of bowling from Shami, who picked 5-69. Unfortunately, India couldn’t win the game as they managed 306-5 in their 50 overs and handed the hosts a vital victory by 31 runs.
