Cricket
Worst bowler in T20! Discover the poor bowling spells in shortest format
Learn about the highest number of runs given away by a bowler in a T20 match, highlighting a challenging day on the field and its impact on the game.
Image Credits: Gareth Copley/Getty Images
The T20 format no doubt is a nightmare for the bowlers. The format demands batters to smash boundaries right from the ball 1 and it doesn’t get easy for the bowlers as they are at the receiving end of the carnage. Not only are the batters hitting, but the conditions in today’s cricket mostly offer flat wickets, which leaves nothing for bowlers as there is no movement for the ball. This makes things worse for bowlers as wherever they pitch the ball, they can get hit.
In modern-day cricket, the economy rate of the bowlers is shooting up because of the way the T20 game is being played. Sometimes the game can be extremely cruel for a few of the bowlers. A bad day is expected for any bowler but over the years we have seen it turning into worse and changing the career of bowlers. In this piece, we will take a look at most runs conceded by a bowler in T20.
Most runs conceded by a bowler in T20
Most runs conceded by a bowler in T20
| Player | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Team | Opposition | Ground | Year |
| Mattie McKiernan | 4.0 | 0 | 82 | 0 | 20.5 | Derbyshire | v Somerset | Taunton | 2022 |
| Sarmad Anwar | 4.0 | 0 | 81 | 0 | 20.25 | Sialkot Stallions | v Lahore Lions | Faisalabad | 2011 |
| Ben William Sanderson | 4.0 | 0 | 77 | 0 | 19.25 | Northants | v Yorkshire | Leeds | 2017 |
| Qais Ahmad | 4.0 | 0 | 77 | 2 | 19.25 | Gladiators | v Sultans | Rawalpindi | 2023 |
| Kasun Rajitha | 4.0 | 0 | 75 | 0 | 18.75 | Sri Lanka | v Australia | Adelaide | 2019 |
| Ben Mike | 4.0 | 0 | 74 | 1 | 18.5 | Yorkshire | v Derbyshire | Chesterfield | 2023 |
| Daryn Dupavillon | 4.0 | 0 | 73 | 1 | 18.25 | Capitals | v MI Cape Town | Centurion | 2024 |
| Mohit Sharma | 4.0 | 0 | 73 | 0 | 18.25 | GT | v DC | Delhi | 2024 |
| Chris Sole | 4.0 | 0 | 72 | 1 | 18 | Scotland | v New Zealand | Edinburgh | 2022 |
| Musfik Hasan | 4.0 | 0 | 72 | 1 | 18 | Victorians | v Rangpur | Mirpur | 2024 |
1. Mattie McKiernan’s spell of 0/82 in Derbyshire vs Somerset in 2022
Mattie McKiernan holds the unwanted record for most runs conceded by a bowler in T20. Playing for Derbyshire, the leg-spinner gave away 82 runs in his 4 overs without taking a single wicket. Somerset batters went after the bowler right from the start and targeted him. Tom Banton (73) and Rilee Rossouw (93) in particular took the leg-spinner to the cleaners and smashed him all over the park. Mattie McKiernan had an economy of 20.5 in his four overs and his poor bowling spell saw the team giving away 265 runs and eventually losing the game by 191 runs.
2. Sarmad Anwar’s spell of 0/81 in Sialkot Stallions vs Lahore Lions in 2011
The second on the list of most runs conceded by a bowler in T20 is Sarmad Anwar. During the Faysal Bank Super Eight T20 Cup between Sialkot Stallions vs Lahore Lions in 2022, the right-arm pacer had the worst possible outing with the ball. He looked in torrid touch right from the start and it was cashed by batters. Openers Nasir Jamshed (53), Ahmed Shahzad (74) and Umran Akmal (43) went bonkers and smashed the pacer all over the park. Sarmad Anwar returned with the figures of 0/81 in his 4 overs and had an economy of 20.25.
3. Ben William Sanderson’s spell of 0/77 during Northants vs Yorkshire in 2017
Ben William Sanderson’s giving away 77 runs in his four overs is the third most runs conceded by a bowler in T20. He achieved the unwanted feat to his name during the game between Northants vs Yorkshire in 2017. The pacer was attacked by the opposition batters right from the start and wasn’t shown any mercy. Adam Lyth (161) was the main man behind carnage and Sanderson’s poor figures as he seemed to be batting on a different track that day and made the day worse for the pacer.
4. Qais Ahmad’s spell of 2/77 during Quetta Gladiators vs Multan Sultans in 2023
Afghanistan spinner Qais Ahmad, who played for Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in 2023, recorded his worst figures in T20 against Multan Sultans in 2023. On a flat Rawalpindi pitch, which is a paradise for batters, nothing went in Qais’ way as he was the worst performer for his team with the ball. Although he picked up two wickets in the game but gave away 77 runs in his 4 overs at an economy of 19.25. His poor effort with the ball his team to concede 262 runs and then eventually lose the game by 9 runs.
5. Kasun Rajitha’s spell of 0/75 during Sri Lanka vs Australia in 2019
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Sri Lanka fast bowler Kasun Rajitha has the fifth most runs conceded by a bowler in a T20 game. The right-arm pacer during the game against Australia gave away 75 runs in his 4 overs without taking a single wicket. He took the new ball but couldn’t restrict run flow as openers David Warner (100*) and Aaron Finch (64) went berserk at the top before Glenn Maxwell (62) did further damage. Rajitha’s figures of 0/75 are also the worst figures by any bowler in the history of the T20I international cricket.
FAQs
Gujarat Titans pacer Mohit Sharma has conceded most runs in the IPL. The fast bowler during the game against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2024 gave away 74 runs in his 4 overs. The pacer was taken to cleaners by Rishabh Pant (88*) and Tristan Stubbs (26*) as Delhi posted 224 runs on the board.
Malaysia’s Syazrul Ezat Idrus has recorded the best figures in the T20I cricket. During the game against China in 2023, the pacer returned with the figures of 7/8 and helped his team bundle out the opposition for just 24 runs. He also had an economy of just 2.
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