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Scotland pacer Charlie Cassell created history on Monday, July 22 as he registered the best-ever ODI bowling figures of 7/21. He achieved this feat during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 fixture against Oman in Dundee, Scotland.
Certainly, it's the dream of every bowler to perform for their team and hog the limelight in their debut game. Doing so in the 50-over format demands skill and prior experience of securing breakthroughs for the side.
Over the years, there have been notable bowlers who have stolen the show with their astute line-length and a proper control of the Kookaburra. On that note, let's take a look at the five finest bowling performances by a player in their debut ODI game.
#5 Tony Dodemaide - 5/21
In January 1998, Australia's Tony Dodemaide were up against the challenge of Sri Lanka in Perth. Batting first, the home team posted 249 on the board, with major contributions from David Boon (56) and Dean Jones (55).
Then, debutant Dodemaide was given the opportunity to open the attack for the team. He used this chance to inflict an early strike of opener Roshan Mahanama and continued to pick wickets at regular intervals. In the end, the right-arm pacer finished with figures of 5/21 in 7.2 overs, as Sri Lanka were bundled out for 168.
#4 Jan Frylinck - 5/13
The final fixture of WCL Division Two witnessed Jan Fylinck's Namibia taking on Oman in April 2019. Karl Birkenstock top-scored with 61 and Frylinck slammed 16* off 6, as the Namibian side compiled a total of 226 on the board.
Then, Frylinck drew first blood as he dismissed Khawar Ali in the second over. The left-arm pacer was exceptional to contain the opposition and finish with figures of 5/13 off eight overs. His performance resulted in Namibia winning by 145 runs and securing a title victory.
#3 Fidel Edwards - 6/22
Remembered for his bowling action, former West Indies pacer Fidel Edwards had a dream ODI debut against Zimbabwe in November 2003 at Harare. The rain-shortened game saw the Caribbean team post a formidable total of 256 in 45 overs, with Wavell Hinds scoring 127 off 141.
Surprisingly, Edwards picked the wicket in only his first ball, dismissing Barney Rogers and continued to open the floodgates for the visitors. The right-arm pacer took an important wicket of Tatenda Taibu (66), as he went on to finish with 6/22 off seven overs. The home team were restricted to 150/7 in 32 overs and lost by 72 runs (revised target of 223).
#2 Kagiso Rabada - 6/16
The lethal pacer, Kagiso Rabada has turned out to be one of the finest all-format bowlers for the South African team. Let's dive into what happened in his debut ODI game against Bangladesh in July 2015 in Mirpur.
In his second over of the game, Rabada breached the defense of Tamim Iqbal with his searing yorker. Then, he got rid of Litton Das and Mahmudullah in the next two balls, as he became only the second bowler to claim an ODI hattrick after Taijul Islam.
Rabada went on to finish with incredible figures of 6/16, as he bundled out the Tigers for 160. Then, the Proteas chased down the score easily under 32 overs, with Faf du Plessis (63*) and Rilee Rossouw (45*) as the key contributors.
#1 Charlie Cassell - 7/21
Interestingly, Charlie Cassell was a late addition to the side, as he replaced Chris Sole for this tournament. Brought into the attack in the 12th over, Cassell became the first bowler in the history to claim wickets off his first two balls and finish the over with a triple wicket maiden. One of his key scalp was former Oman skipper, Zeeshan Maqsood.
The lanky pacer continued to make inroads into the Oman batting unit, as he went to finish off with figures of 7/21 in 5.4 overs. Apart from it being the best figures by a bowler on debut, it was also the seventh-best overall in ODIs.
As a result, Oman were bundled out for a paltry score of 91, with Mehran Khan (17) as the top-scorer.
In response, Scotland chased down the score under 18 overs, as Brandon McMullen scored an unbeaten 37.
