Mitchell Starc overtook fellow Australian legend Glenn McGrath to become the bowler with most number of wickets in a single World Cup edition. The left-arm pacer now has 27 wickets to his name one more than what McGrath achieved in Australia’s victorious 2007 World Cup tournament. Starc reached the milestone after dismissing England opener Jonny Bairstow during the AUS vs ENG semi-final encounter of CWC 2019. Watch Video: 'World Must Speak Up For Balochistan' Banner Flies Above Edgbaston Cricket Stadium During CWC 2019 Australia vs England Semi-Final.
The 29-year-old had already equalled McGrath’s record during Australia’s final league phase game against South Africa. He dismissed Jean-Paul Duminy and Dwaine Pretorius to join McGrath in the elite list after starting that game on 24 wickets before castling Bairstow plumb in front of the wicket to become the bowler with the most number of wickets in a single edition of the World Cup.
Mitchell Starc At Top!
With his removal of Bairstow, Mitchell Starc raised his wicket tally at #CWC19 to 27. Incredible 🔥
No bowler has taken more at one Men's World Cup. Record-breaker 🔝 #CmonAussie pic.twitter.com/9nmJ0qBBpV
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) July 11, 2019
Three-time World Cup winner with Australia, McGrath had achieved the milestone in 2007 where he took 26 wickets. He had, however, played 11 matches to reach the milestone and took his 26th wicket in the final against Sri Lanka, while Starc has played just 10 games so far in CWC 2019. The left-arm quick also has two five-wicket and two four-wicket hauls in CWC 2019, while McGrath’s best figures in 2007 were 3/14 which he achieved in Australia’s second group stage game against Scotland.
Starc also leads the Wickets tally in CWC 2019 with 27 wickets already to his name. Mustafizur Rahman at second is seven wickets behind and with Bangladesh already eliminated from the World Cup, Starc can potentially finish at the top.
Meanwhile, Chaminda Vaas of Sri Lanka is third in the elite list with 23 wickets in the 2033 edition, while Shaun Tait and Muttiah Muralitharan complete the top-five wicket takers in a single World Cup list with 23 wickets each in the 2007 edition.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 11, 2019 09:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).