Top 5 best bowling figures in ICC Champions Trophy history

Only two bowlers have taken six wickets in an innings in ICC Champions Trophy history.

Starting in 1998, the ICC Champions Trophy has undergone several changes throughout its history. The current format features eight teams divided into two groups of four, followed by semi-finals and a final to determine the winners.

Unlike the 50-over World Cup, where teams have a chance to bounce back after initial defeats, the Champions Trophy follows a much tighter format with fewer games, meaning a single loss in the group stage can lead to elimination.

Over the years, several bowlers have delivered match-winning performances in the competition to guide their teams to remarkable victories. In this article, we take a look at the top five best bowling figures in ICC Champions Trophy history.

Top five best bowling figures in ICC Champions Trophy history:

5. Mervyn Dillon – 5/29 vs Bangladesh, 2004, Southampton

West Indies speedster Mervyn Dillon delivered a monumental performance for the Caribbeans in their group stage match against Bangladesh in ICC Champions Trophy 2004 at Southampton.

Defending 269, Dillon kept the West Indies in the contest with a brilliant spell of 5/29 in his quota of 10 overs. He dismissed three of the top four Bangladesh batsmen.

Thanks to his efforts, West Indies won the game by 138 runs.

4. Makhaya Ntini – 5/21 vs Pakistan, 2006, Mohali

Makhaya Ntini registered a five-wicket haul against Pakistan at Mohali in the ICC Champions Trophy 2006.

Batting first, South Africa posted a competitive total of 213 runs, thanks to Mark Boucher’s 69 off 98 balls. Defending the target, Ntini starred for the Proteas with a spell of 5/21, which included the crucial wicket of Younis Khan.

He was named Player of the Match for guiding South Africa to a 124-run win.

3. Shahid Afridi – 5/11 vs Kenya, 2004, Birmingham

Leg spinner Shahid Afridi picked up five wickets in the ICC Champions Trophy against Kenya in Birmingham.

Bowling first, Afridi’s 5/11 helped Pakistan restrict Kenya to a low total of just 94 runs. He was well supported by Shoaib Malik, who also picked up a three-wicket haul to dismantle the Kenya lineup.

Thanks to Afridi’s brilliance, Pakistan won the game by seven wickets.

2. Josh Hazlewood – 6/52 vs New Zealand, 2017, Birmingham

Josh Hazlewood’s exceptional spell of 6/52 came against New Zealand in the group stage game of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. Bowling first, Australia had a challenging task of restricting New Zealand’s quality batting lineup to as low a score as possible.

Hazlewood’s masterclass restricted the Kiwis to 291 runs. His victims included big names like Martin Guptill and James Neesham.

The game ultimately ended without a result as rain interrupted the game after nine overs in Australia’s innings.

1. Farveez Maharoof – 6/14 vs West Indies, 2006, Brabourne

Former Sri Lanka pacer Farveez Maharoof holds the record for the best bowling figures in the Champions Trophy history. He registered figures of 6/14 in a qualifying match ICC Champions Trophy 2006 between Sri Lanka and West Indies in Brabourne.

His brilliance helped Sri Lanka bowl out West Indies for just 80 runs in the first innings. His tally included the key wickets of Brian Lara and Marlon Samuels.

Sri Lanka won the game by nine wickets.

(All stats are updated till 24th February 2025)

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