The cricketing world is abuzz after Samanthi Dunukedeniya’s sensational 7-wicket haul. The 41-year-old shone with figures of 7/15 against Czechia, becoming the fourth woman to achieve this remarkable feat in T20Is. As she joins the elite list of Rohmalia Rohmalia, Frederique Overdijk, and Alison Stocks, let’s revisit some of the best bowling spells to date.
Best Bowling Figures in Women’s T20Is:
Rohmalia Rohmalia (Indonesia) – 7/0 vs Mongolia Women
Indonesian debutant R Rohmalia tops the chart with the best bowling figures in all T20Is. On her debut against Mongolia Women in the fifth T20I of a bilateral series in Bali, Rohmalia bowled an extraordinary spell, taking seven wickets without conceding a single run. The teen off-spinner delivered 20 dot balls, dismissing seven batters for ducks to achieve record-breaking figures.
In the match, Indonesia set a target of 151 for Mongolia to chase, powered by Ni Putu Ayu Nanda Sakarini’s 61 off 44 balls. In response, Mongolia’s batting lineup crumbled. Enkhbold Khaliunaa scored just 4, followed by Batjargal Ichinkhorloo with 2 runs. Rohmalia then ran through the middle and lower order, dismissing Sendsuren Ariuntsetseg (7), Odzaya Erdenebaatar (1), and five batters for ducks, including the last wicket, Mendbayaar Enkhzul, to complete her incredible 7/0.
Frederique Overdijk (Netherlands) – 7/3 vs France Women
Frederique Overdijk made history as the first bowler to take seven wickets in a T20I, with figures of 7/3 against France Women during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Europe Region Qualifier in Cartagena, Spain.
France Women were bundled out for just 33 runs. Overdijk struck early, removing Tara Britton (5), and continued her dominance, dismissing Poppy McGeown (8), Dorothea Graham (0), captain Emmanuelle Brelivet (1), Tracy Rodriguez (0), Emma Chance (0), and Maelle Cargouet (0). Her stellar figures of 7/3 from four overs surpassed Nepal’s Anjali Chand’s previous record of 6/0 against the Maldives.
Alison Stocks (Argentina) – 7/3 vs Peru Women
Alison Stocks delivered a match-winning performance, claiming 7/3 against Peru Women in the South American Women’s Championships.
Peru Women managed only 31 runs in the match as Stocks spearheaded Argentina’s bowling attack. She dismissed Erika Bustamente Saavedra (1) early and then dismantled the lower order, taking the wickets of Sisi Varillas Atencio (0), Milka Linares Flores (0), Angiella Rutti (1), Pierina Kelzy de Ortiz (0), and Stacy Diaz (0). Stocks’ precision and consistency earned her brilliant figures of 7/3 in just 3.4 overs.
Samanthi Dunukedeniya (Cyprus) – 7/15 vs Czechia Women
Samanthi Dunukedeniya’s 7/15 against Czechia Women during the Cyprus Women’s Tour of Czech Republic T20Is was a masterclass in bowling.
In the first T20I, Ayesha Dirannehelage (53 off 64) and Captain Iresha Chathurani (58 off 57) helped Cyprus post a competitive 151. Samanthi then led the bowling attack, dismissing Rachel Pavlickova (2), captain Katerina Tesarikova (1), Zuzana Franova (0), Pratibha Choudhary (1), Divya Mehtani (lbw), Sarka Kolcunova (0), and Olga Hamrikova (4). Her stellar spell, completed in 3.5 overs, secured her spot in the elite club of seven-wicket hauls.
Anjali Chand (Nepal) – 6/0 vs Maldives Women
Anjali Chand’s spell of 6 wickets for no runs against Maldives remains one of the most iconic performances in women’s T20I history. The match, part of the South Asian Games Women’s Cricket Competition, was both Chand’s and Maldives’ debut in international cricket.
Opting to bat first, Maldives collapsed to 15/4 by the end of the powerplay. Chand came into the attack and dismissed captain Zoona Mariyam (0), followed by Latsha Haleemath, Shaffaa Saleem, Eashal Ibrahim, Kinaanath Ismail, and Shamma Ali, all for ducks. She bowled 2.1 overs without conceding a run, setting a record for the best bowling figures in a women’s T20I debut.
