[caption id="attachment_564481" align="aligncenter" width="628"]<img class="size-full wp-image-564481" alt="Amit Mishra's spell of against New Zealand was the best in the year 2016 IANS" src="http://www.cricketcountry.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Mishra-1.jpg" width="628" height="355" /> Amit Mishra's spell of against New Zealand was the best in the year 2016 IANS[/caption] <p></p> <p></p>In a batsmen-dominated format, bowlers are not likely to have any impact on a regular basis. But last year, there were several great performances from bowlers who produced impactful performances that resulted in favourable outcomes for their sides. Australia played a total of 29 ODIs, and Adam Zampa, who made his debut in the format only in February 2016, finished with most wickets in the year. Zampa, with 30 wickets in 19 games, was followed by John Hastings at the second spot with 29 wickets in a mere 15 matches. In the list of most wicket-taking bowlers,there were two more spinners in Adil Rashid and Imran Tahir who featured in the top five. Let us take a look at the best bowling performances in ODIs in 2016: <p></p> <p></p><b><a href="http://www.cricketcountry.com/players/luke-jongwe" target="_blank">Luke Jongwe</a> 5.1-1-6-5 vs Afghanistan: </b>Zimbabwe were trailing 0-2 in a five-match series, heading in to the third game. Zimbabwewere in a desperate search of a win and Jongwe provided them just that. After being shot out for a paltry 175, Zimbabwe needed their bowlers to step up. Tendai Chisoro and Neville Madziva provided Zimbabwe the opening, and Jongwe took over. He produced a miraculous spell of 5 for 6 in a mere 5.1 overs, ripping through the Afghanistan middle-order. Afghanistan were bowled out for an embarrassing 58, and Zimbabwe won by 117 runs. <p></p> <p></p>[caption id="attachment_564484" align="aligncenter" width="628"]<img class="size-full wp-image-564484" alt="Sunil Narine set up West Indies' win over South Africa AFP" src="http://www.cricketcountry.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Sunil-Narine.jpg" width="628" height="355" /> Sunil Narine set up West Indies' win over South Africa AFP[/caption] <p></p> <p></p><b>Sunil Narine 9.5-0-27-6 vs South Africa, Guyana: </b>Narine showcased class and guile after registering perhaps his first best bowling performance since remodelling thebowling action. In the first ODI of the tri-series in the Caribbean, Narine ran through the South Africans without any mercy, bundling them out for a paltry 188. Narine s 3 out of 6 wickets were leg-before. <p></p> <p></p><b>Adam Zampa 5.3-0-16-3 vs West Indies, Guyana: </b>Zampa showed mettle in only his third ODI of the career. Batting first, West Indies produced an ordinary show as they were bowled outfor 116. On a spinning wicket at Guyana, Nathan Lyon took 3 for 39 off his 10 overs. But Zampa was even better, as he sent down 3 maidens, snaffled 3 wickets and gave away a mere 16 runs. Australia won by 6 wickets. <p></p> <p></p><b>Josh Hazlewood 10-3-20-2 vs South Africa, Guyana:</b>In a low scoring match wherein Australia were bundled out for 142 in reply to South Africa s 189, Hazlewood remained the only bright spot. The lanky pacer made full use of the conditions and delivered a familiar probing spell, which South Africans struggled against. However, South Africa recovered to beat Australia by 47 runs. <p></p> <p></p>[caption id="attachment_564487" align="aligncenter" width="628"]<img class="size-full wp-image-564487" alt="Jasprit Bumrah will be the one to watch out for AFP" src="http://www.cricketcountry.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Jasprit-Bumrah123.jpg" width="628" height="355" /> Jasprit Bumrah will be the one to watch out for AFP[/caption] <p></p> <p></p><b>Jasprit Bumrah 9.5-2-28-4 vs Zimbabwe, Harare: </b>Zimbabwe batsmen clearly struggled against the slinging action of Bumrah, who wreaked havoc on them. Bumrah, who impressed on his ODI debut against Australia, produced his first noticeable show in this format, in the first ODI at Harare. <p></p> <p></p>He snaffled 4 for 28 in 9.5 overs as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 168 in 49.5 overs. India won by 9 wickets. <p></p> <p></p><b>Imran Tahir 9-0-45-7 vs West Indies, St Kitts:</b>The leg-spinner provided South Africa their revenge when they met the West Indies next in the tri-series. In the sixth match, South Africa batted extremely well to post 343 for 4 on board riding on Hashim Amla s 110. Tahir did the rest as he accounted for the final 5 wickets, as West Indies were bowled out for 204. South Africa won by 139 runs. <p></p> <p></p><b>Rashid Khan 8-1-21-4 vs Ireland, Belfast: </b>The Afghanistan bowler claimed 4 out of the final 7 wickets in the Irish ranks to help his side win by 79 runs. It was a special victory for the Afghanistan cricket team since they had produced an all-round show. Nazibullah Zadran and Mohammad Nabi s fifties helped Afghanistan score 229 in 50 overs, and Rashid did the rest by terrorising the Irish lower-order. <p></p> <p></p><b>Imad Wasim 5.4-0-14-5 vs Ireland, Dublin: </b>After Sharjeel had plundered 152 to help Pakistan post 337 on board, Ireland really had no chance to win. Pakistan wrapped things up soon with Imad producing a fabulous spell. Imad began with the key wicket of Niall O Brien, and literally cleaned up the Irish tail taking the last 3 wickets inside 4 deliveries of the 24th over. <p></p> <p></p><strong>[read-also]562811,562488[/read-also]</strong> <p></p> <p></p><b>Amila Aponso 9.2-0-18-4 vs Australia, Colombo: </b>After their 0-3 annihilation in the Test series, Australia were expected to hit hard. Australia won the first ODI, but Aponso helped Sri Lanka level the terms with the visitors, hitting them where it hurts. Australia struggled against Aponso s spin. He accounted for Steven Smith s wicket, dismissing the best Australian batsman for 30 in their chase of 289. Aponso also got rid of the dangerous George Bailey for 17 and then claimed James Faulkner for 13. Thanks to Aponso s brilliance, Sri Lanka managed to win their only ODI of the five-match series by 82 runs. <p></p> <p></p>[caption id="attachment_564491" align="aligncenter" width="628"]<img class="size-full wp-image-564491" alt="Amit Mishra dismantled New Zealand single-handedly IANS" src="http://www.cricketcountry.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Mishra.jpg" width="628" height="355" /> Amit Mishra dismantled New Zealand single-handedly IANS[/caption] <p></p> <p></p><b>Amit Mishra 6-2-18-5 vs New Zealand, Visakhapatnam: </b>In absence of RavichandranAshwin and Ravindra Jadeja, the leg-spinner was extremely impressive against New Zealand but needed to provide the killer punch to make it to the headlines. In the final ODI, which was a series decider, India posted a daunting target of 270 for the Kiwis to win. If Indian team had any doubts of a victory, Mishra cleared them. On a dry wicket at Visakhapatnam, he came onto bowl in the 11th over of the innings. <p></p> <p></p>Mishra utilised the conditions and frailties of New Zealand batsmen to his advantage, and tore through the Kiwis. Ross Taylor was caught-behind, and BJ Watling got perhaps the most beautiful googly of the year. He missed the line and was bowled on the second ball. In the 20th over, Mishra snuck one between Jimmy Neesham s bat and pads to crash into the wickets. Tim Southee was snarled in the same over. <p></p> <p></p>This was Mishra s best bowling performance in ODIs. And certainly, the <b>best ODI spell of the year</b>. <p></p> <p></p><b>Jason Holder 8-0-16-2 vs Sri Lanka, Harare: </b>Despite putting up an ordinary 227 on board, West Indies showed character to register a win. Shannon Gabriel claimed 3 for 31 in his 8.1 overs, but it was Jason Holder s spell that set the tone for the West Indies. Holder did not allow the Sri Lankans to score off him easily, and claimed the key wickets of Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Mendis for cheap. <p></p> <p></p><b>Chad Soper 3 for 39 and 6 for 41 vs Hong Kong</b>: Soper made a memorable debut for himself, snaffling 9 wickets in his first two ODIs. While in the first match, Soper s side Papua New Guinea were thrashed by Hong Kong with a margin of 106 runs, he ensured that his side had their revenge in the next match. PNG made 201 in the first innings, and Hong Kong in return were bowled out for 187. Soper set the ball rolling for his team with three early wickets of Jamie Atkinson (23), Kinchit Shah (0) and Babar Hayat (0). The top-scorer from Hong Kong Shahid Wasif was dismissed by Soper for 45, and the seamer returned to clean up the tail, setting up an impressive win for his team.
