West Indies cricket legend Courtney Walsh delivered one of the most astonishing bowling performances in ODI history during a match against Sri Lanka in 1986 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. In what remains an unforgettable display of pace and precision the tall fast bowler completely dismantled the Sri Lankan lineup by claiming five wickets while conceding just a single run. The match played as part of the Champions Trophy saw the West Indies putting up a strong fight but the real drama unfolded in the second innings when Walsh was introduced into the attack and changed the complexion of the game entirely.The Sri Lankan team seemed to be putting up a resistance before Walsh triggered a collapse that is rarely seen in international cricket. in a devastating spell spanning just 4.3 overs including three maiden overs he tore through the opposition batting order. His final figures of 5 wickets for 1 run remains the most economical five wicket haul in the history of One Day Internationals. The Sri Lankan team crumbled under his ferocious attack and lost their last five wickets for virtually nothing ending their innings at a meager total of 55 runs giving the Windies a massive 193 run victory.This historical spell not only secured a dominant win for the West Indies but also etched Walshs name in the record books forever. Even decades later cricket fans and experts cite this performance as a prime example of the dominance the West Indies pace battery held over world cricket during that era. It stands as a testament to Walshs ability to turn a match on its head singlehandedly and remains a benchmark for economical bowling that modern bowlers find nearly impossible to replicate given the changes in the game.
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