1.Vic Marks
Vic Marks was the star bowler for England in their 47-run victory over Sri Lanka at Taunton. He took 5 wickets for 39 runs in his 12 overs, which is the best bowling figures for England in a World Cup match. He dismissed three of the top five Sri Lankan batsmen, including Sidath Wettimuny and Duleep Mendis, who scored half-centuries. He also broke the sixth-wicket partnership between Arjuna Ranatunga and Somachandra De Silva, and stumped De Silva with a clever delivery. His bowling helped England restrict Sri Lanka to 286.
2.Tim Bresnan
Tim Bresnan was the most successful bowler for England in the thrilling tie against India in the 2011 World Cup. He took five wickets for 48 runs in 10 overs, including four in his last two overs to restrict India to 338. He dismissed Sehwag, Dhoni, Pathan, Kohli and Harbhajan, all of whom were dangerous hitters. He also bowled a yorker to knock off Kohli’s off stump and had Harbhajan lbw with a late inswinger. He achieved his career-best ODI figures and was the first England bowler to take a five-wicket haul in a World Cup match since Andrew Flintoff in 2007. He also contributed 14 runs with the bat and hit a six in the penultimate over of the chase.
3. Steven Finn
Steven Finn was the only England bowler who had some success in the match against Australia. He took 5 wickets for 71 runs in his 10 overs, including a hat-trick in the last over of the innings. He dismissed George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc in quick succession, reducing Australia from 342 for 6 to 342 for 9. His 5 for 71 was his second best bowling performance for England in One-day international, and the seventh best bowling figures by an England bowler against Australia in ODIs. However, his efforts were not enough to prevent Australia from posting a huge total of 342 for 9, which proved too much for England to chase. England were bowled out for 231 in 41.5 overs, losing the match by 111 runs. Finn was the only England bowler with an economy rate of less than 7 in the match. He also took the most wickets in the match, along with Mitchell Marsh, who took 5 for 33 for Australia. Finn’s hat-trick was the first by an England bowler in World Cups, and the seventh overall in the tournament’s history.
4. Chris Old
Chris Old was the star of the show as England bowled out Canada for a paltry 45 runs in the eighth match of the 1979 World Cup at Manchester. Old, a medium-fast bowler, took four wickets for just eight runs in his 10 overs, including three maidens. He dismissed Tariq Javed, John Vaughan, Cecil Marshall and Martin Stead, all lbw or bowled, with his accurate and swinging deliveries. He also bowled the most economical spell of the tournament, conceding only 0.80 runs per over. He was well supported by his fellow pacers Bob Willis, who also took four wickets, Mike Hendrick and Ian Botham, who took one each. Old’s performance earned him the player of the match award, as England chased down the target in 13.5 overs with eight wickets to spare.
5. John Snow
John Snow was the star of the show for England in their 9th match against East Africa in the Prudential World Cup 1975. He bowled with pace and accuracy, taking four wickets for just 11 runs in 12 overs, including three maidens. He dismissed both the openers and two middle-order batsmen, leaving East Africa reeling at 15 for 3. He was awarded the player of the match for his outstanding bowling performance, which helped England win by a huge margin of 196 runs.
