IPL 2019 StatsWizard: Top Bowling Performances from first half

Alzarri Joseph’s spell of 6-12 the highlight as we find the top 5 bowling performances from for the first half of IPL 2019.

After seeing the top batting performances from the first half of IPL 2019 in our previous article, we have another special article on the top bowling performances from the first half of IPL 2019. 

While there was some brilliant display of batting by Andre Russell, David Warner, etc., bowlers weren’t far behind as there have been many match-winning bowling spells too.

Alzarri Joseph’s 6-12, Imran Tahir’s 3-9, Kagiso Rabada’s 4-21 were among the top bowling spells of IPL 2019 so far. But, which bowling spell stood out from the rest?. Here’s our article describing the top 5 bowling performances from the first half of IPL 2019.

METHODOLOGY:

We have analyzed the top bowling performances basis the bowling points calculated from the overall aspect of the game such as wickets taken, number of maidens bowled, number of dot balls, economy rate bonus, relative economy rate and runs bonus, and the man of the match points.

To leave out the biases and perceptions, we have kept the things simple by comparing the overall bowling points of all the spells to find out the top 5 bowling performances from the first half of IPL 2019.

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#5: IMRAN TAHIR’S 3-9 | Chennai | CSKvRCB

Overs: 4 | Runs: 9 | Wickets: 3 | Dots: 18

ER.: 2.25 | Bowling Points: 192 Points

One of the top spells of the match between CSK and RCB as Imran Tahir set the tournament on fire with his brilliant spell of 3-9 in 4 overs. 

On a slow and sluggish Chennai pitch, CSK decided to bowl first, and it turned out to be a fantastic decision.

Harbhajan Singh triggered the RCB collapse with some superb bowling in the powerplay by reducing them to 39-4 after 8 overs. 

Brought in the tenth over, Imran Tahir too looked difficult to getaway. He bowled all his four overs on the trot, and took 3 wickets leaking away just 9 runs.

RCB were eventually bundled out for a meager 70 in 17.1 overs. CSK did stutter a little in the chase, but eventually chased the target in 17.4 overs.

Imran Tahir didn’t get the man of the match, but still gets a total of 192 bowling points for his splendid effort.

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#4: MOHAMMAD NABI’S 4-12 | MUMBAI | MIvSRH

Overs: 4 | Runs: 11 | Wickets: 4 | Dots: 16

ER.: 2.75 | Bowling Points: 196 Points

A great first match of IPL 2019 for Mohammad Nabi as his crucial 4-11 left RCB strangled.

Batting first, the dynamic opening duo of Warner-Bairstow lifted SRH to a mammoth 231-2 in 20 overs. Jonny Bairstow and David Warner both hit magnificent centuries. 

Chasing 232, a lot was expected from another dynamic duo of Kohli-Abd, but to fans’ disappointment, they were undone by some brilliant bowling by Mohammad Nabi.

Bowling the second over of the chase, Nabi got his first wicket in the form of a gift as a mistimed hit to cover by Parthiv Patel ended his stay at the crease. 

The moment of the match came in the fourth over as Nabi first stumped Hetmyer with a loopy ball and then AB de Villiers with a brilliant drift.

Bowling his fourth over on the trot, Nabi ended all hopes of RCB as he hit the final nail in the coffin by taking the wicket of Shivam Dube.  

Eventually, RCB were bundled out for another low score of 113, thus losing the match by 118 runs. 

Mohammad Nabi wasn’t awarded the man of the match, but the splendid performance was enough to get him 196 bowling points. 

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#3: KAGISO RABADA’S 4-21 | BANGALORE | DCvRCB

Overs: 4 | Runs: 21 | Wickets: 4 | Dots: 9

ER.: 5.25 | Bowling Points: 199 Points

An awesome display of bowling from the young, Kagiso Rabada as he joins the list of awesome bowling performances against the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Batting first, RCB were going decently at 36-1 with the duo, Kohli-Abd at the crease in the fifth over. However, coming in to bowl the last over of the powerplay, Rabada, foxed Abd with a brilliant slower delivery to get rid of him.

Post that wicket, Virat Kohli and Akshdeep Nath lifted RCB to a respectable 133-4 in 17 overs. However, with only 3 overs remaining, RCB looked to accelerate. But, a mistimed shot by Kohli ended his fighting 41(33). In the same over, Rabada ripped apart the tail with two more wickets. 

In the end, Rabada’s key 4 wickets restricted RCB’s total to 149-8 in 20 overs. A total chased down comfortably by Delhi Capitals in 18.5 overs.

For his man of the match performance, Rabada gets a total of 199 bowling points.

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#2: SHREYAS GOPAL’S 3-12 | JAIPUR | RRvRCB

Overs: 4 | Runs: 12 | Wickets: 3 | Dots: 16

ER.: 3 | Bowling Points: 214 Points

Ohh, poor RCB as they got strangled by the spin web of Shreyas Gopal this time.  Coming to the match, RCB were cruising along with 48 already on the board in the powerplay.

Shreyas Gopal came into the attack in the seventh over. With the pitch offering slight help to the spinners, Shreyas Gopal bowled one of the best of balls of the tournament as he bowled Kohli with a perfect wrong ‘un. 

He didn’t’ stop there as he got rid of Abd in the very next over with another wrong ‘un, which Abd top-edged to Gopal himself.

After bowling a wicket maiden, Shreyas got rid of the dangerous Hetmyer too with another superb wrong ‘un. 

Gopal ended his brilliant spell on 4-1-12-3 as RCB ended their innings on 158-4 in 20 overs. RR chased the target comfortably in 19.5 overs with 7 wickets in hand. 

Shreyas Gopal gets a total of 214 bowling points for his sublime bowling spell.

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#1: ALZARRI JOSEPH’S 6-12 | HYDERABAD | SRHvMI

Overs: 3.2 | Runs: 12 | Wickets: 6 | Dots: 16

ER. 3.27 | Bowling Points: 283 Points

Spell of IPL 2019 so far, or rather the spell of the IPL as Young, Alzarri Joseph ripped apart the Sunrisers Hyderabad’s strong batting line-up with an unbelievable spell of 6-12.

After reducing Mumbai Indians to a meager 136, SRH started the chase strongly having scored 27 in the first 3 overs. The night, however, was meant for the young speedster, Alzarri Joseph.

Bowling his first ball of the IPL career, Joseph got rid of the dangerous, David Warner. After bowling a wicket maiden, he got Vijay Shankar in the very next over. His first two-over spell read 2-1-4-2. 

With 53 needed off the last 5 overs, it looked anybody’s game from there. However, Alzarri Joseph ended all the hopes of SRH as he first got rid of Hooda and Rashid in the 16^th over, and then Bhuvi and Kaul in the 18^th over to seal the game for Mumbai Indians. 

Alzarri Joseph’s 6-12 is the best bowling performance from the first half of IPL 2019. 

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SPECIAL MENTION:

Some other bowling performances that deserve special mention are 

1. Sam Curran | 4-11 | Bowling Points: 185.6
2. Jasprit Bumrah | 3-20 | Bowling Points: 181
3. Hardik Pandya | 3-20 | Bowling Points: 181
4. Deepak Chahar | 3-20 | Bowling Points: 164.2
5. Jofra Archer | 3-15 | Bowling Points: 162

That’s about it from our side on the top 5 bowling performances from the first half of IPL 2019.

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