Ranking Haris Rauf’s top 3 T20I spells

Haris Rauf has been a mainstay of Pakistan’s T20 team since he made his debut. He played a crucial role in taking Pakistan to the finals of the 2022 T20 World Cup which they eventually lost against England. Rauf has impressed everyone with his skills in the shortest format playing in various franchise leagues all over the world. He has also delivered some brilliant spells for Pakistan in T20 cricket.

Let’s take a look at the top 3 spells bowled by Haris Rauf in T20I spells:

4/18 vs New Zealand, 2023

Rauf bowled his best spell in T20 cricket against the Kiwis at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Pakistan elected to bat first after winning the toss and put 182 runs on the board in the first innings. The target looked chasable but Pakistan’s lethal bowling attack blew New Zealand away from the contest. Haris Rauf was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan with 4 wickets in just 3.3 overs. Rauf got the better of stand-in skipper Tom Latham, James Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, and Ben Lister to pack up New Zealand’s batting for a miserable 94 runs. Pakistan won this match by 88 runs. 

4/22 vs New Zealand, 2021

Interestingly, the majority of Haris Rauf’s best spells have come against New Zealand. He loves operating against the Kiwis and here’s another proof of that. Rauf took this 4-fer against New Zealand in Sharjah at the biggest stage, the 2021 T20 World Cup. 

In the group stage match, Pakistan crushed New Zealand getting a comprehensive win where Haris Rauf had a significant role to play. Pakistan restricted New Zealand to a pathetic total of 134 courtesy of a brilliant spell from Harish Rauf. In the top order, Rauf dismissed Martin Guptill. Later in the last 4 overs, he broke a budding partnership between Devon Conway and Glenn Phillips by dismissing both in the same over. On the last delivery of the New Zealand innings, he bowled Mitchell Santner out completing his spell with 4 wickets. 

4/27 vs New Zealand, 2023

Another brilliant Haris Rauf performance came against familiar foes in New Zealand. Once again, he picked up 4 wickets to guide Pakistan to a convincing victory. Pakistan scored 192 runs in the first innings with Babar Azam scoring a quick century. In the second innings, Haris Rauf spearheaded the Pakistan bowling attack by dismissing key batters in the New Zealand batting order. He curtailed the stay of Will Young, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, and Rachin Ravindra on the crease ensuring a comfortable victory by 38 runs. 

Also read: Virat Kohli’s 3 most memorable knocks across formats