1 year ago
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On Sunday, November 5, veteran West Indies spinner Sunil Narine announced his retirement from international cricket. Narine said that he was absent from international cricket for four years – his last appearance was in a T20 match against India in August 2019.
Narine has chosen to prioritize franchise cricket over representing the national team and has indicated that he will continue to do so as long as his physical condition allows.
Here we take a look at his top 5 spells in international cricket:
#5 5 for 27 vs New Zealand, Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts (ODI)
Sunil Narine delivered a remarkable performance picking up a career-best five wickets for a mere 27 runs in his 10 overs. He was instrumental in bowling out New Zealand for 221 runs. It was an impressive performance as he capped off an impressive series where he picked up 13 wickets at a remarkable average of just 11.23 runs per wicket.
#4 3 for 20 vs New Zealand, Pallekele, Kandy (T20I)
Sunil Narine was exceptional as he stifled New Zealand much in the same way he had done so in the one-day series in the Caribbean. Partnering with his fellow spinner, Samuel Badree, the spinners delivered eight tight overs, conceding just 38 runs.
Narine’s wicket-taking prowess was on full display, as he achieved remarkable figures of 3 wickets for just 20 runs.
#3 4 for 26 vs Pakistan, Providence, Guyana (ODI)
Sunil Narine engineered a remarkable turnaround for West Indies, as he picked up four crucial wickets for just 26 runs and steered his side to a thrilling win.
Pakistan was chasing 232, but they never got going as the home team’s combination of pace and spin attack proved effective as they managed to restrict Pakistan to a total of 195 runs.
#2 6 for 27 vs South Africa, Providence, Guyana (ODI)
Returning from a ban, Sunil Narine marked his return to international cricket after a year with a match-winning performance for West Indies as he tied South Africa in knots.
He claimed six wickets for a mere 27 runs, and restricted South Africa to a total of just 188 runs in 47 overs during the first One-Day International (ODI) held at Providence Stadium in Guyana.
#1 3 for 9 vs Sri Lanka, R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (T20I)
Narine returned figures of 3-9 in 3.4 in the 2012 World T20 (Presently the T20 World Cup) final against Sri Lanka and played a key role in West Indies defending a below par total on a surface that assisted the spinners. Sri Lanka was chasing 137, but they never were allowed to breathe easy. Narine bowled his entire assortment of deliveries – the fizzing off break, the flat carrom ball and the doosra that turned away.
He accounted for Mahela Jayawardene and then returned to send back Lasith Malinga and Nuwan Kulasekara. Amidst all this, he conceded just 9 runs in 3.4 overs.
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