Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga marked his comeback to international cricket with figures of 7-19, ranking as the fifth-best bowling performance in men's ODI history.
During the 2023 LPL, Hasaranga excelled by securing the highest run tally, claiming the most wickets, maintaining the best bowling average and economy rate, achieving the top batting strike rate, recording the finest bowling figures, hitting the most sixes, and posting the two fastest scores in the competition.
Leading B-Love Kandy to victory, he unsurprisingly earned the title of Player of the Tournament. Following this outstanding display in the Twenty20 league, expectations were high for his performance in the World Cup.
However, an injury and subsequent surgery forced him to withdraw from the tournament. Upon his return to the field for the Major Clubs Limited Over Tournament, Hasaranga made an impact by taking five wickets and scoring 43 runs in two matches for the Colombo Cricket Club.
In the interim, Sri Lanka Cricket appointed him as the new captain for T20Is. In the home series against Zimbabwe, Hasaranga missed the first two ODIs as Sri Lanka took a 1-0 lead after a rain-affected match. He rejoined the team for the final ODI, which was shortened to 27 overs per side. Consequently, two bowlers were limited to six overs each, while the rest bowled five overs.
Entering the match as the fifth bowler in the ninth over, Hasaranga dismissed Takudzwanashe Kaitano with his sixth delivery, initiating a 10-ball sequence where he claimed three wickets for four runs. Although a no-ball resulted in two runs, and Luke Jongwe hit a six, slightly affecting Hasaranga's figures, he bounced back to take the last two wickets. Ultimately, he finished with figures of 5.5-1-19-7, marking the fifth-best bowling performance in men's ODIs.
Best figures in men’s ODI history
8-19 – Chaminda Vaas against Zimbabwe at SSC 2001/02
7-12 – Shahid Afridi against West Indies at Providence 2013
7-15 – Glenn McGrath against Namibia at Potchefstroom 2003 (World Cup)
7-18 – Rashid Khan against West Indies at Gros Islet 2017
7-19 – Wanindu Hasaranga against Zimbabwe at Premadasa 2023/24
Zimbabwe were bowled out for 96 in 22.5 overs. The home side chased the target in the 17th over to win the three-match series 2-0.
- Wanindu Hasaranga