Most runs conceded by bowlers in an ODI World Cup inning

Jason Holder. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

The 2023 World Cup is a few weeks away and before its arrival, it’s necessary for us to revisit some unprecedented numbers registered on the names of players in previous editions of the marquee event. In the 48 years of the tournament, some players have broken into record books with some unwanted feats. 

In this article, some bowlers will be discussed who are holding the record for conceding the most runs in a World Cup innings. No illustrious bowler will want to own this embarrassing record in the massive tournament but a few lacked discipline and were taken to the cleaners by batters.

Here are the bowlers who conceded the most runs in a World Cup innings

5. Ashantha de Mel against West Indies in 1987

Ashantha de Mel against West Indies in 1987. (Photo Source: Patrick Eagar/Popperfoto via Getty Images/Getty Images)

The West Indies were one of the most dangerous sides during the 1980s and 1990s. Bowling against Windies batters used to be a challenge for bowlers in those times. In 1987, when the West Indies came to play the World Cup in the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka bowlers became their victims in the seventh match of the competition. 

Coming heavily on Sri Lanka bowlers, the West Indies racked up 360 runs in their 50 overs at the National Stadium, Karachi. In this game, pacer Ashantha de Mel took the important wicket of the Windies captain Viv Richards but splurged 97 runs in his 10-over spell at an expensive economy of 9.70.

Sri Lanka’s indisciplined bowling show shattered the confidence of their batters as well. Following the gigantic target, Sri Lanka could score only 169. Ashantha’s bowling numbers in the match made him the bowler who conceded the most runs from his team in an innings in World Cups.

4. Dawlat Zadran against Australia in 2015

Dawlat Zadran against Australia in 2015. (Photo Source: Paul Kane/Getty Images)

In the 2015 World Cup, Afghanistan played their debut in the World Cup and broke into the record books. In the 26th contest of the World Cup, they locked horns with the five-time champions Australia at the West Australia Cricket Association (WACA) Ground, Perth. 

The match ended in Australia’s favour by 275 runs and David Warner became the Player of the Match for his stunning knock of 173 off 133 deliveries. The Aussie opener hit the headlines for his extraordinary innings in the game while the Afghan speedster Dawlat Zadran got criticised for his horrendous bowling.

As a leader of the pace attack, Zadran gave a fine start to his team, claiming the wicket of Aaron Finch in the third over of the match but later faced the wrath of Aussie batters. He gave away 101 runs in his 10-over spell. Currently, he is the bowler who has bowled the second-most expensive spell for Afghanistan in World Cups.

3. Jason Holder against South Africa in 2015

Jason Holder against South Africa in 2015. (Photo Souce: PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images)

In the 19th match of the 2015 World Cup, South Africa captain AB de Villiers led his team from the front against the West Indies. The right-handed Protea batter notched up an unbeaten 162 off 66 and helped his team hammer the Windies team by a massive margin of 257 runs.

After the game, there were a lot of talks about de Villiers’ excellence and Jason Holder’s terrible bowling display. Holder, who started well in the contest with the crucial wicket of the wicketkeeper batter Quinton de Kock, lost his rhythm in the later stages of the innings.   

The lanky pacer bowled a 10-over spell in the game and ended up as the costliest bowler in the match. His bowling figures were 10-2-104-1 at the end of South Africa’s innings. These numbers also made him the bowler who splurged the most runs for the West Indies in a World Cup innings.

2. Martin Snedden against England in 1983

Martin Snedden against England in 1983. (Photo Source: Patrick Eagar/Popperfoto via Getty Images)

The 1983 World Cup saw an amazing start with the hosts England beating New Zealand by 106 runs at the iconic Oval. Allan Lamb, England’s middle-order batter, played sensational innings of 102 off 105 in the game and became the Player of the Match for guiding his team to the convincing victory.

Along with Lamb, the New Zealand pacer Martin Snedden also attracted the eyeballs but for his unsuccess in the game. The Kiwi pacer bowled a 12-over spell in the 60-over ODI match for each side and gave away 105 runs at an economy of 8.75. The former New Zealand pacer is the record holder of being the costliest bowler for his team in a World Cup game due to the infamous spell against England.

England posted 322 runs on the board in their 50 overs and replying to the hosts, New Zealand batters failed to display their best. The Kiwi team collapsed under pressure while chasing the enormous total, getting bundled out on 216 in 59 overs.

1. Rashid Khan against England in 2019

Rashid Khan against England in 2019. (Photo Source: Philip Brown/Popperfoto via Getty Images)

Rashid Khan is considered the best bowler for Afghanistan in all formats of the sport. Afghan cricket supporters always keep their expectations high from their star spinner during humongous cricketing events. However, back in the 2019 World Cup, when the Afghan team was struggling to be among the wins, Rashid added salt to the injuries of fans.

Appearing in the match against England in the tournament, the leg-break Afghan bowler not only went back wicketless at the end of England’s innings but also emerged as the most indisciplined bowler in the match. The youngster bowled a nine-over spell in the contest and gave away 110 runs.

Rashid’s disastrous bowling figures threw him onto the list of bowlers who conceded the most runs in an innings of the World Cup. The match is also remembered for Eoin Morgan’s sensational knock of 148 off 71 in which he hit 17 maximums and became the player to hit the most sixes in an ODI innings.