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Oman left-arm medium pacer Bilal Khan created history on Wednesday, July 24, becoming the fastest pacer to claim 100 wickets in ODIs. He achieved the feat during match number 17 of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 at Forthill in Dundee. The 37-year-old registered figures of 3-50 in his 10 overs as Oman got the better of Namibia by four wickets.
Bowling first after winning the toss, Oman did a great job to restrict Namibia to 196-9 and then chased down the total in 49.1 overs. Bilal got the big wicket of Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus (8), having him caught by Fayyaz Butt. He also trapped Jan Frylinck lbw for 12 before getting the scalp of JP Kotze, having him caught behind for 5.
In the wake of Bilal's record-breaking achievement, we take a look at the top five pace bowlers who are the fastest to reach 100 wickets in Men's ODIs.
#5 Mustafizur Rahman - Bangladesh (54 matches)
Bangladesh's experienced left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman needed 54 matches to claim 100 wickets in ODIs. He reached the landmark in a game against Pakistan during the 2019 World Cup at the iconic Lord's. Mustafizur, who claimed 5-75 in the game, dismissed Haris Sohail to complete 100 ODI scalps. The Pakistan batter uppishly cut a back-of-length delivery to deep extra cover.
Mustafizur has so far featured in 104 one-day matches and has claimed 164 scalps at an average of 26.26 and an economy rate of 5.16, with five five-wicket hauls. His best of 6-43 was registered against India in Mirpur in June 2015.
#4 Shane Bond - New Zealand (54 matches)
Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond also got to 100 ODI scalps in 54 matches. He achieved the feat against England in Adelaide during the Commonwealth Bank Series in January 2007.
Bond registered figures of 2-32 in the game that the Kiwis won by 90 runs. He dismissed Monty Panesar with a short ball to reach 100 ODI wickets.
The 49-year-old ended up playing only 82 ODIs in a career plagued by injuries. Bond picked up 147 wickets at an excellent average of 20.88 and an economy rate of 4.28, with four five-wicket hauls. His best of 6-19 came against India in Bulawayo in August 2005, a match New Zealand won by 51 runs.
#3 Mitchell Starc - Australia (52 matches)
Australia's seasoned left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc is at number three on the list of fast bowlers who have been quickest to 100 ODI scalps. Starc needed 52 matches to reach 100 ODI wickets. He got to the landmark in a game against Sri Lanka in Colombo in August 2016. The left-arm pacer registered impressive figures of 3-32 as Australia won by three wickets.
Dhananjaya de Silva was Starc's 100th ODI victim. The Aussie left-armer deceived the Lankan batter with a slow ball, which Dhananjaya could not chip to short midwicket. Starc has so far claimed 236 scalps in 121 ODIs at an average of 22.96 and an economy rate of 5.21, with as many as nine five-wicket hauls. His best of 6-28 came against New Zealand in Auckland in the 2015 World Cup.
#2 Shaheen Shah Afridi - Pakistan (51 matches)
Pakistan's experienced left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi is second on the list of quick bowlers to reach the 100-wicket mark in ODIs in the fastest time. Afridi needed 51 matches to reach the landmark and got there in a game against Bangladesh at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata during the 2023 World Cup.
Afridi registered figures of 3-23 from nine overs in the match that Pakistan won by seven wickets. The 24-year-old bowler's first wicket in the game was also his 100th ODI scalp. He dismissed Tanzid Hasan lbw with a length ball that darted in and caught the Bangladesh opener in front of the wickets.
So far, Afridi has claimed 104 wickets in 53 matches, averaging 23.94 at an economy rate of 5.54, with three five-wicket hauls. His best of 6-35 also came against Bangladesh at Lord's during the 2019 World Cup.
#1 Bilal Khan (49 matches)
The Oman left-armer broke Afridi's record to become the pacer to take 100 ODI wickets in the least number of matches. Bilal needed only 49 games to reach the landmark, getting there in the match against Namibia in Dundee on July 24, 2024. The Oman fast bowler claimed three wickets in the game to create history.
Following the clash against Namibia, Bilal now has 101 wickets from 49 matches at an average of 20.97 and an economy rate of 5.06, with four five-wicket hauls. His best of 5-31 came against UAE in Dubai in March 2022.
