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ESPNcricinfo Awards ESPNcricinfo Awards 2014 T20I bowling winner: A master sans mystery

ESPNcricinfo Awards Australians, Malinga dominate shortlists

Players/Officials Krishmar Santokie Nadeem Ahmed Dale Steyn Ahsan Malik Ravichandran Ashwin Rangana Herath Samuel Badree Lasith Malinga Glenn Maxwell

Krishmar Santokie
4 for 21 vs England
second T20, Barbados
No express pace but deadly accuracy and great nous were the ingredients to Santokie's success at the top and tail of England's innings, which set up a series win for West Indies. Full deliveries accounted for Michael Lumb and Moeen Ali (the latter a lovely slower ball) and then he helped quell any late charge by grabbing the explosive Jos Buttler and Ravi Bopara in the space of four balls in his last over.

Nadeem Ahmed
4 for 21 vs Bangladesh
World T20, Chittagong
Nadeem's contributions were a shot in the arm for Associate cricket, though Bangladesh progressed from Group A despite defeat and Hong Kong were already destined to go home. Bangladesh had dispatched the more fancied Afghanistan and Nepal but came unstuck against the last side to qualify for the World T20. From 2 for 3 in the first over, they hurried past 50, with Anamul Haque striking Nadeem for three consecutive boundaries before playing on. Hong Kong's slow left-armer continued to flight the ball, picking off the tail to finish with four wickets, helping his team complete a dramatic two-wicket win.

Dale Steyn
4 for 17 vs New Zealand
World T20, Chittagong
South Africa had never lost a T20 defending 170-plus and Steyn ensured it stayed that way with a restrictive and penetrative performance against New Zealand. He gave away just five runs in his opening two overs and then returned at the death, with New Zealand needing 29 runs off three overs. Steyn had Corey Anderson caught on the boundary in his second-last over but still found himself defending seven runs off the final over. He then lured Luke Ronchi into driving and had him caught behind, then conceded four off Nathan McCullum, before, with three needed off two balls, having McCullum caught and running out Ross Taylor. South Africa sneaked through against a team that had had the better of them at major tournaments.

Ahsan Malik
5 for 19 vs South Africa
World T20, Chittagong
South Africa were not expected to be so lax against Associate opposition. Ahsan Malik, the right-arm seamer, had Hashim Amla caught behind as he went after a wide ball, had Albie Morkel caught on the boundary, Dale Steyn nicking, Beuran Hendricks top-edging, and then bowled David Miller with a full, swinging delivery to claim his best return in a T20. His figures were the ninth-best T20 bowling figures, the best by an Associate against a Full Member, and almost saw Netherlands pull off an upset.

R Ashwin
4 for 11 vs Australia
World T20, Mirpur
Australia were already out of the tournament and hardly looked the part in the chase when they had their weakness against spin exposed by Ashwin, who triggered a collapse. Ashwin removed Aaron Finch in his first over and David Warner in his second, before Glenn Maxwell got into a horrid tangle with a reverse sweep and was bowled. Ashwin conceded just one boundary, a straight six by Warner. He then struck a final blow, to send Australia packing for a sorry 86 and helping India win by 73 runs.

Rangana Herath
5 for 3 vs New Zealand
World T20, Chittagong
Sri Lanka's rousing World T20 triumph may never have occurred but for a spell of wizardry from Rangana Herath in the final Group 1 match. Chasing 120 under lights, New Zealand had banked on evening dew assisting their assault on Sri Lanka's spinners. Instead, they ended up being mugged by one of the great T20 spells. A tired surface suited Herath's subtle skills perfectly and he wove a web of deception, starting with the removal of Brendon McCullum in his first over. New Zealand did not take a run off him until his 14th ball, and Herath delivered 18 dots in 3.3 overs. He removed four of the top six, as well as running out Martin Guptill, before returning to complete the coup and a magnificent individual display.

Samuel Badree
3 for 10 vs Pakistan
World T20, Mirpur
Known for his stingy economy rate, Samuel Badree not only stifled Pakistan with his discipline but also dented their middle order. He had Kamran Akmal driving his third ball to cover, then flummoxed Umar Akmal with a googly, and beat Shoaib Malik to have him stumped, leaving Pakistan reeling at 13 for 4, a position from which they never recovered in their chase. That he never conceded more than a single off any delivery was a sign of his control.

Lasith Malinga
0 for 27 vs India
World T20 final, Mirpur
Malinga's effect on the World T20 final was all the more remarkable for the fact that he finished wicketless. India closed their innings only four down but the life was sucked out of their final overs by Sri Lanka's master practitioner. While Virat Kohli threatened to take charge, Malinga lurked menacingly in the background, bowling just once during the Powerplay. With the 18th and 20th overs, however, he turned a challenging total into a below-par one, conceding just 11 runs (two of them byes) and no boundaries, by deploying an arsenal of yorkers that were too good for even the likes of Kohli and MS Dhoni. India were restricted to 130 and Sri Lanka galloped to an emphatic win.

Glenn Maxwell
3 for 13 vs Pakistan
Only T20, Dubai
Though he is known more for his exploits with the bat, it was Maxwell's new-ball spell that helped win this match. Setting the tone with an opening over that cost three, he then struck twice in his second, and Pakistan started to implode under pressure. He soon added a third to leave the hosts at 23 for 3 in the fifth, and it was somewhat of a surprise he was not asked to bowl his full allocation.

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