ESPNcricinfo Awards 2022 Women's ODI bowling nominees: Dean downs India, Ecclestone knocks out South Africa
Three spinners and two seamers make up our shortlist this year
S Sudarshanan
07-Mar-2023
Sophie Ecclestone's 6 for 36 are England's best figures in a World Cup game, beating Anya Shrubsole's 6 for 46 in the final in 2017 • Sanka Vidanagama/AFP/Getty Images
Marizanne Kapp
5 for 45 vs England
Women's World Cup, Mount Maunganui
On a slow Bay Oval surface, in a big World Cup game, Kapp found a way to pick up her first five-wicket haul in ODIs. She first had Danni Wyatt smash one straight to Laura Wolvaardt at backward point off her sixth ball. Two overs later, her disciplined lines around off caused a moment of indecisiveness for Heather Knight, whose late decision to shoulder arms saw the ball ricochet off the bat onto the stumps. Returning at the death, Kapp had Katherine Sciver-Brunt balloon a catch to cover before deceiving Sophia Dunkley with change of pace. She then dismissed Kate Cross to complete the five-for. Kapp bowled a consistent line outside off stump and took pace off the ball, which made her difficult to get away and dangerous to attack. She went on to play a key role with the bat, scoring 32 off 42, to help South Africa beat England in a World Cup for only the second time.
5 for 45 vs England
Women's World Cup, Mount Maunganui
On a slow Bay Oval surface, in a big World Cup game, Kapp found a way to pick up her first five-wicket haul in ODIs. She first had Danni Wyatt smash one straight to Laura Wolvaardt at backward point off her sixth ball. Two overs later, her disciplined lines around off caused a moment of indecisiveness for Heather Knight, whose late decision to shoulder arms saw the ball ricochet off the bat onto the stumps. Returning at the death, Kapp had Katherine Sciver-Brunt balloon a catch to cover before deceiving Sophia Dunkley with change of pace. She then dismissed Kate Cross to complete the five-for. Kapp bowled a consistent line outside off stump and took pace off the ball, which made her difficult to get away and dangerous to attack. She went on to play a key role with the bat, scoring 32 off 42, to help South Africa beat England in a World Cup for only the second time.
Charlie Dean
4 for 23 vs India
Women's World Cup, Mount Maunganui
Defending champions England had three losses on the trot and were on the brink of elimination facing India, who were chugging along at 61 for 3 with Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana steadying them. Offspinner Dean was brought on as the fifth bowler in the 17th over and she immediately had an impact. She picked up two wickets in four balls - including that of Harmanpreet - to peg India back. She pinned Pooja Vastrakar lbw before dismissing Meghna Singh to skittle India out for 134 - their lowest all-out total in a World Cup game since the 2005 final.
4 for 23 vs India
Women's World Cup, Mount Maunganui
Defending champions England had three losses on the trot and were on the brink of elimination facing India, who were chugging along at 61 for 3 with Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana steadying them. Offspinner Dean was brought on as the fifth bowler in the 17th over and she immediately had an impact. She picked up two wickets in four balls - including that of Harmanpreet - to peg India back. She pinned Pooja Vastrakar lbw before dismissing Meghna Singh to skittle India out for 134 - their lowest all-out total in a World Cup game since the 2005 final.
Frances Mackay
4 for 34 vs England
Women's World Cup, Auckland
On a drizzly night at Eden Park, offspinner Mackay, bowling with a wet ball, caused flutters in England's chase of 204. A 70-run fifth-wicket partnership between Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sophia Dunkley had England set for a comfortable win when Mackay got one to spin in sharply past Dunkley's outside edge and bowl her. She then got Sophie Ecclestone to inside-edge one onto her stumps and trapped Kate Cross lbw as England lost 5 for 20 in 29 balls and were in danger of being bowled out before the tailenders got them past the line. Mackay had earlier trapped captain Heather Knight lbw too.
4 for 34 vs England
Women's World Cup, Auckland
On a drizzly night at Eden Park, offspinner Mackay, bowling with a wet ball, caused flutters in England's chase of 204. A 70-run fifth-wicket partnership between Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sophia Dunkley had England set for a comfortable win when Mackay got one to spin in sharply past Dunkley's outside edge and bowl her. She then got Sophie Ecclestone to inside-edge one onto her stumps and trapped Kate Cross lbw as England lost 5 for 20 in 29 balls and were in danger of being bowled out before the tailenders got them past the line. Mackay had earlier trapped captain Heather Knight lbw too.
Sophie Ecclestone
6 for 36 vs South Africa
Women's World Cup semi-final, Christchurch
A first five-wicket haul for Ecclestone in ODIs knocked South Africa out of the World Cup. Chasing 294 for an unlikely win, South Africa saw their top four depart at fairly regular intervals. Ecclestone, brought on as the sixth bowler only in the 24th over, quelled any middle-order charge there might have been. She got into the act by bowling the dependable Marizanne Kapp with one that drifted in, dipped and turned away past her attempted whip. Ecclestone's smart lines and lengths also saw Mignon du Preez miss her paddle and be bowled. She completed her five-for when Masabata Klaas top-edged one to backward point before having Trisha Chetty stumped to end the game and finish with a six-wicket haul.
6 for 36 vs South Africa
Women's World Cup semi-final, Christchurch
A first five-wicket haul for Ecclestone in ODIs knocked South Africa out of the World Cup. Chasing 294 for an unlikely win, South Africa saw their top four depart at fairly regular intervals. Ecclestone, brought on as the sixth bowler only in the 24th over, quelled any middle-order charge there might have been. She got into the act by bowling the dependable Marizanne Kapp with one that drifted in, dipped and turned away past her attempted whip. Ecclestone's smart lines and lengths also saw Mignon du Preez miss her paddle and be bowled. She completed her five-for when Masabata Klaas top-edged one to backward point before having Trisha Chetty stumped to end the game and finish with a six-wicket haul.
Renuka Singh
4 for 29 vs England
third ODI, Lord's
An apt performance from Renuka to signal the change of baton, as far as India's seam attack is concerned, in Jhulan Goswami's farewell match. Defending 169 was not going to be an easy task against England's batting line-up even if it was missing Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt. After a cautious start from the openers, Renuka managed to take three wickets in three overs. She first bowled one outside off and got Emma Lamb stumped. In her next over, Renuka got one to jag back in past Tammy Beaumont's outside edge to bowl her. Then she used the wobble seam to sneak one through Sophia Dunkley's bat-pad gap to knock her stumps back. Later in the innings, when England had recovered a bit thanks to a 76-ball fight back from stand-in captain Amy Jones and No. 9 Charlie Dean, Renuka returned to break the stand. India managed to eke out a 16-run win and Renuka was adjudged the Player of the Match.
4 for 29 vs England
third ODI, Lord's
An apt performance from Renuka to signal the change of baton, as far as India's seam attack is concerned, in Jhulan Goswami's farewell match. Defending 169 was not going to be an easy task against England's batting line-up even if it was missing Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt. After a cautious start from the openers, Renuka managed to take three wickets in three overs. She first bowled one outside off and got Emma Lamb stumped. In her next over, Renuka got one to jag back in past Tammy Beaumont's outside edge to bowl her. Then she used the wobble seam to sneak one through Sophia Dunkley's bat-pad gap to knock her stumps back. Later in the innings, when England had recovered a bit thanks to a 76-ball fight back from stand-in captain Amy Jones and No. 9 Charlie Dean, Renuka returned to break the stand. India managed to eke out a 16-run win and Renuka was adjudged the Player of the Match.
S Sudarshanan is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo