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Sri Lanka leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga entered record books on June 25 as he became the second bowler in ODI history to register three consecutive five-wicket hauls. Hasaranga was expensive as he conceded 79 runs in his full quota of 10 overs but he ran through Ireland’s batting lineup as they got all out for 192 in 31 overs in the run chase of 326.
Before Hasaranga, Pakistan’s Waqar Younis took three consecutive fifers in ODIs in November 1990. He took 5/11 and 5/16 against New Zealand at Peshawar and Sialkot. The legendary Pakistan pacer followed it up with a 5/52 against West Indies at Karachi.
Hasaranga has taken 18 wickets in World Cup Qualifiers 2023 already. He registered his best ODI bowling figures of 6/24 against UAE and followed it up with 5/13 against Oman.
In the Ireland clash, the in-form leggie was introduced just after first powerplay overs. Ireland skipper Andrew Balbirnie could not pick the googly and got out lbw. He got hit for a six by Harry Tector in the third over. In the next over, he had his revenge as Tector failed to pick the wrong one as well and got out lbw.
He was expensive in his fifth over as Curtis Campher hit him for two fours and a six. In his sixth over, he was hit for a six by Gareth Delany. He brought out the wrong one again and Delany got bowled. In the same over, Mark Adair tried to take him on but gave an easy catch to Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka. In the 31st over, Hasaranga got the fourth wicket with his wrong one. Joshua Little got out caught and bowled.
The 25-year-old’s 5/79 is also the second-most expensive fifer in ODI cricket history. England leg-spinner Adil Rashid is on top with five wickets for 85 runs against West Indies in 2019.
Hasaranga also broke former South Africa speedster Dale Steyn and Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis' record of most wickets in five consecutive ODI innings. Steyn and Mendis had taken 20 wickets each in five consecutive ODI innings. Now, Hasaranga leads the list with 21 wickets from five consecutive ODI innings. Before the World Cup Qualifiers, he took three wickets for seven runs against Afghanistan.
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