Cricket
Most Maiden Overs in ODI and T20 Cricket
Modern cricket is arguably becoming the batsman’s game. Compared to a decade ago, team totals have surged across all formats, with batting and team records being completely rewritten. A popular comment is that cricket favours the batsmen. It’s difficult to argue against that assertion, with ball changes in limited-over formats, newer cricket bats and the shortening of boundaries making bowling seem less desirable.
Shaun Pollock of South Africa//Getty Images
Even tail-enders are given a bigger role in scoring runs by comparison.
However, although modern-day bowlers appear to have a more difficult task of carving a niche in the sport, restricting runs remains as important as ever before.
SportsBoom looks at the masters of maiden overs in ODIs and T20Is.
Who Has the Most Maiden Overs in ODI Cricket?
| Bowler | Nationality | Maiden Overs | Matches | Best Figures |
| Shaun Pollock | South Africa | 313 | 303 | 6/35 |
| Glenn McGrath | Australia | 279 | 250 | 7/15 |
| Chaminda Vaas | Sri Lanka | 279 | 322 | 8/19 |
| Wasim Akram | Pakistan | 238 | 356 | 5/15 |
| Kapil Dev | India | 235 | 225 | 5/43 |
| Muttiah Muralitharan | Sri Lanka | 198 | 350 | 7/30 |
| Sir Curtly Ambrose | West Indies | 192 | 176 | 5/17 |
| Sir Richard Hadlee | New Zealand | 185 | 115 | 5/25 |
| Courtney Walsh | West Indies | 185 | 205 | 5/1 |
| Ewen Chatfield | New Zealand | 155 | 114 | 5/34 |
Shaun Pollock: 313 Maidens
Shaun Pollock comes from an esteemed cricketing lineage, which includes his grandfather Andrew (who played first-class cricket), his father Peter (who represented the Proteas in 28 Tests and was Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1966) and his uncle Graeme (considered among South Africa’s greatest players).
Even with big shoes to fill, Shaun Pollock earned his place among the greats.
His right-arm fast bowling was consistent and economical, his abilities as a batsman made him reliable in the lower order, and he also excelled as captain in the early 2000s.
For 13 years, Pollock was a mainstay of the Proteas’ bowling attack.
He holds the record for the most maiden overs in ODI cricket history - 313 from just 303 matches - a statistic that demonstrates his ability to stifle opposition innings.
Pollock has also claimed the most wickets in home ODI matches (193).
Glenn McGrath: 279 Maidens
During Australia’s reign over world cricket in the 1990s and 2000s, Glenn McGrath was a force of nature for the Baggy Greens with his pinpoint accuracy and pace.
In any debate about the greatest bowler, his name is always mentioned.
From 1993 until his retirement in 2007, McGrath took 563 wickets in Tests, placing him behind only England quicks James Anderson and Stuart Broad as the most successful bowler in the longest format.
In 50-over cricket, he claimed 381 wickets at an average of 22.02.
McGrath’s abilities as a bowler also shone in pressure situations, where he took 71 wickets in ODI Cricket World Cups - a record for the tournament that still stands today.
He also recorded 279 ODI maiden overs from just 250 matches.
Chaminda Vaas: 279 Maidens
In a country where pitches were generally prepared for spin bowling, Chaminda Vaas paved the way for Sri Lanka’s pace bowlers with his lines and length.
The left-armer could swing the ball and exemplified discipline.
Over 15 years, Vaas would become Sri Lanka’s most successful fast bowler, claiming 355 Test wickets and later forming a lethal partnership with Muttiah Muralitharan.
Impressively, he also has the only eight-wicket haul in ODI history.
Vaas was particularly good with the new ball, opening the bowling for Sri Lanka, where he bowled 279 maiden overs in 322 50-over international matches.
Sri Lankan cricketer Chaminda Vaas//Getty Images
Chaminda Vaas has one of the longest names in cricket: Deshabandu Warnakulasuriya Patabendige Ushantha Joseph Chaminda Vaas, with his initials reading WPUJC.
Who Has the Most Maiden Overs in T20 Cricket?
| Bowler | Nationality | Maiden Overs | Matches | Best Figures |
| Frank Nsubuga | Uganda | 17 | 64 | 3/8 |
| Shem Ngoche | Kenya | 14 | 98 | 4/14 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | India | 12 | 70 | 3/7 |
| Henry Ssenyondo | Uganda | 11 | 90 | 5/8 |
| SanjayKumar Thakor | Tanzania | 11 | 58 | 4/4 |
| Bhuvneshwar Kumar | India | 10 | 87 | 5/4 |
| Dinesh Nakrani | Uganda | 10 | 71 | 6/7 |
| Ghulam Ahmadi | Germany | 10 | 44 | 5/23 |
| Nopphon Senamontree | Thailand | 10 | 35 | 4/9 |
| Peter Ago | Nigeria | 10 | 52 | 6/5 |
| Richard Ngarava | Zimbabwe | 10 | 66 | 4/16 |
Frank Nsubuga: 17 Maidens
The Ugandan veteran has achieved an impressive 17 maiden overs in T20 internationals, with his spin bowling reaping success in his career spanning more than two decades.
His rise in popularity came far more recently, however.
Frank Nsubuga became the oldest player to feature in T20 World Cups at 43 years old (during the 2024 edition) as Uganda recorded their first-ever senior ICC tournament win against Papua New Guinea.
He also recorded the most economical spell in tournament history.
Nsubuga’s spell of four overs for two runs, with two wickets and two maidens, saw him enter the history books and earn recognition from Guinness World Records.
Frank Nsubuga//Getty Images
Shem Ngoche
14 years ago, Shem Ngoche was widely ridiculed for his three consecutive golden ducks in the 2011 World Cup - first trapped LBW against New Zealand and then bowled out against Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
He did not feature in Kenya’s remaining games at the tournament.
However, Ngoche has quietly represented his country as a bowler and a captain, including the Africa Qualifiers for the 2021 T20 World Cup, which Kenya narrowly missed out on.
The right-arm spinner has bowled 14 maiden overs in international T20s.
Shem Ngoche and Eldine Baptiste//Getty Images
Jasprit Bumrah: 12 Maidens
The big news in recent weeks has been about the fitness of the right-armer, with his back injury having ruled him out of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.
India is likely to miss his presence in their bowling line-up.
Since 2016, Bumrah has become a fearsome aspect of his country’s pace attack due to his unorthodox short run-up and ability to swing the ball both ways.
This makes it hard for many batsmen to consistently score off him.
Bumrah has bowled 12 maiden overs in T20 internationals and is ninth on the list of all-time wicket-takers in the format, emphasising his deadly skill with the ball.
In the 50-over format, where teams generally have to pace themselves to maximise time on the pitch, maiden overs are valuable at slowing run rates and applying pressure.
The T20 format is more punishing for bowlers with batting usually being more aggressive, which makes the feat of delivering six balls without conceding runs an impressive feat.
Jasprit Bumrah//Getty Images
References
- 1
Most Maiden Overs in ODIs Cricket: Cricket365, Meet the misers – the 5 bowlers with the most maiden overs in ODI cricket: https://www.cricket365.com/odi-cricket/most-maiden-overs-in-odi-cricket Accessed Feb 15, 2025
- 2
ODI Bowling Records: ESPN cricinfo, Bowling Records One-Day Internationals: https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=2;home_or_away=1;template=results;type=bowling Accessed Feb 15, 2025
- 3
5 bowlers with the highest number of maiden overs: SportsKeeda, 5 bowlers with the highest number of maiden overs across all formats: https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/5-bowlers-with-highest-number-maiden-overs-across-all-formats Accessed Feb 15, 2025
- 4
Bowlers with Most Maiden Overs: My11Circle, Bowlers with Most Maiden Overs in ODI Cricket History: https://www.my11circle.com/fantasy-sports/cricket-records/most-maidens-in-odi/ Accessed Feb 15, 2025
- 5
Shaun Pollock Bowling Career Summary: Cricbuzz, Shaun Pollock Profile: https://m.cricbuzz.com/profiles/218/shaun-pollock Accessed Feb 15, 2025
- 6
Glenn McGrath Bowling Career Summary: Cricbuzz, Glenn McGrath Profile: https://m.cricbuzz.com/profiles/41/glenn-mcgrath Accessed Feb 15, 2025
- 7
Chaminda Vaas Bowling Career Summary: Cricbuzz, Chaminda Vaas Profile: https://m.cricbuzz.com/profiles/108/chaminda-vaas Accessed Feb 15, 2025
- 8
T20 International Bowling Records: ESPN cricinfo, Most maidens in career T20Is: https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/most-maidens-in-career-311984 Accessed Feb 15, 2025
- 9
Frank Nsubuga breaks most economical spell record: Wisden, 43-year-old Frank Nsubuga breaks most economical spell record in Uganda’s maiden World Cup win: https://www.wisden.com/series/icc-mens-t20-world-cup-2024/cricket-news/43-year-old-frank-nsuguba-breaks-most-economical-spell-record-ugandas-maiden-world-cup-win Accessed Feb 16, 2025
- 10
Most maiden overs in T20Is: Guinness World Records, Most maiden overs bowled in a Twenty20 International career (male): https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/105238-most-maiden-overs-bowled-in-a-twenty20-international-career-male Accessed Feb 15, 2025
- 11
Entertainingly hopeless batsmen: ESPN cricinfo, Phantom and Co: https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/espncricinfo-xi-some-entertainingly-hopeless-batsmen-586603 Accessed Feb 16, 2025
- 12
Jasprit Bumrah records: ESPN cricinfo, Jasprit Bumrah Profile: https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/jasprit-bumrah-625383/tests-odi-t20-records Accessed Feb 16, 2025
- 13
T20I bowling records: ESPN cricinfo, Most wickets taken bowled in T20Is: https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/most-wickets-taken-bowled-283720 Accessed Feb 16, 2025
Bruce Douglas has more than 12 years of experience in local news media. He has worked at all levels of print and online publication, from crime and politics to photography, newspaper layout, proofreading, mentoring, sub-editing, and leading a newsroom. He played numerous sports at the school level and enjoys keeping up to date.