Discover the Most Expensive T20 Bowling Record Uncovered, revealing the highest-cost performances in the shortest format of cricket. One unique feature of T20 cricket is how batters put bowlers under pressure with their big hits.
Massive sixes and fast fours may excite fans, but they often result in bowlers conceding a lot of runs. Some bowlers even find themselves on the list of most runs given in a T20 match.
At the top of that list is Mattie McKiernan, who holds the record for the costliest bowling spell in T20 cricket.
Playing for Derbyshire in a T20 Blast quarter-final in 2022, McKiernan gave away 82 runs in four overs against Somerset. His figures, 4-0-82-0, broke the previous record set by Sarmad Anwar, who conceded 81 runs in four overs for Sialkot Stallions during the Super Eight T20 Cup in 2011.
Adding to Anwar’s troubles, he bowled four no-balls in that game against Lahore Lions. Anwar played his last match in December 2014 and never represented his country at the international level.
Before Anwar, Sussex’s Robert Kirtley held the record, giving away 67 runs in a match against Essex in 2008.
Highest Runs Given by Bowlers in Domestic T20 Matches
| Player | Team | Opponent | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mattie Mckiernan | Derbyshire | Somerset | 4 | 0 | 82 | 0 |
| Sarmad Anwar | Sialkot Stallions | Lahore Lions | 4 | 0 | 81 | 0 |
| Ben Sanderson | Northamptonshire | Yorkshire | 4 | 0 | 77 | 0 |
| Qais Ahmad | Quetta Gladiators | Multan Sultans | 4 | 0 | 77 | 2 |
| Ben Mike | Yorkshire | Derbyshire | 4 | 82 | 74 | 1 |
Sri Lanka’s Kasun Rajitha holds the unwanted distinction for the most expensive bowling spell in T20 internationals. In the first T20I of the 2019 tour of Australia, Rajitha was taken to the cleaners in his second (21 runs) and third overs (25 runs) after conceding 11 in his opening over. He ended with figures of 0/75 in four overs.
This fixture ended up being the last time he represented the Lankan Lions in the T20I format.
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Bowler Who Gave Away the Most Runs in T20Is
| Player | Team | Opponent | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kasun Rajitha | Sri Lanka | Australia | 4 | 0 | 75 | 0 |
| Chris Sole | Scotland | New Zealand | 4 | 0 | 72 | 1 |
| Tunahan Turan | Turkey | Czech Republic | 4 | 0 | 70 | 1 |
| Barry J McCarthy | Ireland | Afghanistan | 4 | 0 | 69 | 0 |
| Kyle Abbott | South Africa | West Indies | 4 | 0 | 68 | 1 |
Gujarat pacer Mohit Sharma now holds the record for the most expensive bowling in Indian T20 League history.
In a 2024 match against Delhi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Mohit gave away 73 runs in four overs.
The previous record was held by former Hyderabad bowler Basil Thampi, who conceded 70 runs in four overs against Bengaluru in 2018.
Record for Most Runs Given by Bowlers in Indian T20 League
| Player | Team | Opponent | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohit Sharma | Gujarat | Delhi | 4 | 0 | 73 | 0 |
| Basil Thampi | Hyderabad | Bengaluru | 4 | 0 | 70 | 0 |
| Yash Dayal | Gujarat | Kolkata | 4 | 0 | 69 | 0 |
| Reece Topley | Bengaluru | Hyderabad | 4 | 0 | 68 | 0 |
| Ishant Sharma | Hyderabad | Chennai | 4 | 0 | 66 | 0 |
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