The year 2011 was the golden time for Indian cricket when India won their second ODI World Cup after 27 years. But at the same time, CWC 2011 was the golden tournament for spin bowlers who were ruling the best bowlers chart. Right-arm leg-break bowlers Shahid Afridi was the highest wicket-taker during this tournament with 21 wickets in just 8 games. We have seen a lot of all-time best spin deliveries during this tournament and here is the list for the top 10 spin deliveries.
Top 10 Spin Deliveries of CWC 2011
- Harbhajan Singh (India)
India-Pakistan cricket rivalries are world known and when it comes to a tournament like a world cup, it’s not just a game for players or fans. Harbhajan Singh bowled one of the top 10 spin deliveries during the match against Pakistan and took an important wicket of Umar Akmal at the score of 29. later he also took the wicket of Shahid Afridi and helped India to win this match by 29 runs.
- Shahid Afridi (Pakistan)
Shahid Afridi was the highest wicket-taker in CWC 2011 and during a match against Kenya, he bowled one of the best spin deliveries of this tournament. Batting first in the match, Pakistan was managed to score only 184 runs in 43 overs. But a five-wicket haul from Shahid Afridi helped Pakistan to win this match by 46 runs.
- Muttiah Murlidharan (Sri Lanka)
Muttiah Murlidharan is one of the best spinners of all time. He was the fourth highest wicket-taker during this tournament, taking 15 wickets in 9 games. During a game against Zimbabwe, he bowled Regi Chakabva with one of the best spin delivers in this tournament. He took 3 wickets in this match.
- Naeem Islam (Bangladesh)
During a match against West Indies, Bangladesh managed to score only 58 runs so far. Junaid Siddique and Mohammad Ashraful were the only batters from the side, who scored double-digit runs. It was impossible for Bangladesh to win this match but right-arm off-break bowler Naeem Islam won the hearts of fans with one of the top 10 spin deliveries. He took the wicket of Devon Smith when he batting on just 6 runs.
- Saeed Ajmal (Pakistan)
In a match against West Indies, Shahid Afridi took 4 wickets and West Indies was all out on just 112 runs. Saeed Ajmal also played an important role here taking two wickets in the match. He took the wicket of Darren Sammy with one of the best top 10 spin deliveries.
- Balaji Rao (Canada)
During a match against Kenya, right-arm leg-break bowler Balaji Rao took the wicket of Jimmy Kamande who was batting on 22 runs. It was one of the top best 10 spin deliveries from the team of Kenya.
- Sulieman Benn (West Indies)
Sulieman Benn took a four-wicket haul against Bangladesh during a group stage match and helped West Indies to win the match by 9 wickets. He finished Bangladesh with just a score of 58 runs along with Kemar Roach and Daren Sammy. He took the wicket of Shakib Al Hasan with one of the best top 10 spin deliveries.
- Imran Tahir (South Africa)
Imran Tahir took a 3 wicket haul against the Netherlands in a group stage match of CWC 2011. He took the wickets of tell enders but his spin bowling was so mysterious that he bowled one of the top 10 spin deliveries of the tournament during this match and took the wicket of Bernard Loots.
- Graeme Swann (England)
Graeme Swann took the wicket of dangerous-looking Gautam Gambhir during a match against India. This high score match was a tie, with both teams scoring 338 runs. Graeme Swann played an important role in tieing this match taking the wicket of Gautam Gambhir and later playing a cameo inning of 15 runs.
- Mohammad Hafeez (Pakistan)
Mohammed Hafeez bowled the best spin deliveries of CWC 2011 and it was again Gautam Gambhir who was on the crease. India won this match by 29 runs at the end but Hafeez became the finest spin bowlers of Pakistan.
