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Zampa achieved this significant feat while representing Australia in their ICC T20 World Cup match against Namibia at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
Adam Zampa outshined pace bowler Mitchell Starc to claim the title of Australia’s top wicket-taker in the annals of ICC T20 World Cup history.
Zampa achieved this notable milestone during the ICC T20 World Cup encounter between his team and Namibia at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
During the match, Zampa delivered a devastating performance, claiming figures of 4/12 in four overs with an exceptional economy rate of 3.00, which dismantled the Namibian batting lineup. Among his victims was the prominent all-rounder David Wiese.
With this display, Zampa’s tally in 17 T20 World Cup matches now stands at 31 wickets, achieved at an impressive average of 11.93 and an economy rate of 5.96, with his best bowling figures being 5/19. Surpassing Starc, who has taken 29 wickets in 22 matches with an average of 24.72, Zampa’s performance solidifies his position as Australia’s premier wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history.
The top three leading wicket-takers in T20 World Cup history remain Bangladesh’s versatile all-rounder Shakib al Hasan, former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi, and former Sri Lankan pace maestro Lasith Malinga.
On Wednesday, Zampa achieved another milestone by becoming the first Australian cricketer to claim 100 wickets in T20 International matches. With 100 wickets to his name in 83 games, he maintains an impressive average of 21.46 and an economy rate of 7.20, with his standout performance being figures of 5/19.
Adding to his accolades, Zampa earned his fifth ‘Player of the Match’ award in T20 World Cup history, joining the ranks of stars like Chris Gayle, Mahela Jayawardene, and Shane Watson, who have also received the honor five times. However, the record for the highest number of ‘Player of the Match’ awards in the tournament history remains with Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli, who has secured the honor seven times.
Turning to the match itself, Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first, putting Namibia in to bat. Apart from skipper Gerhard Erasmus, none of the other batters managed to make an impact, leading to Namibia being dismissed for just 72 runs in 17 overs.
Zampa led the Australian bowling attack as the highest wicket-taker, supported by commendable performances from Josh Hazlewood and Marcus Stoinis. Pat Cummins and Nathan Ellis also contributed by securing a wicket each.
In the pursuit of the target, Australia swiftly chased down the total in a mere 5.4 overs, courtesy of explosive innings from Travis Head, David Warner, and skipper Marsh, who showcased their destructive batting prowess.