5 most expensive spells in T20 internationals

#3 Sanath Jayasuriya – vs Pakistan at Johannesburg, 17 September 2007

His figures at the time were the joint most expensive T20I figures

Figures: 4 overs, 0 for 64

In what can best be described as a case of the predator becoming the prey, it was Sanath Jayasuriya, also known as the “Matara Marauder”, who entered the unwanted list of the most expensive T20I bowling spells ever. I’m sure he’d have wanted to be on this list as the batsman who took all those runs off the bowler instead.

The opposition was Pakistan in this inaugural ICC world T20 game in 2007. Captain Mahela Jayawardena won the toss and opted to bowl.

Sanath came on to bowl in the 9^th over. Pakistan were in trouble at 49 for 3, with Shoaib Malik and Younis Khan, both more grafters than hitters, at the crease. Shoaib Malik hit him for a four and a six here, which combined with 4 more singles meant 14 off his first over.

His 2^nd over, the innings’ 11^th, saw another four by Malik, and some brilliant running between the wickets that saw him take three twos, making it 12 off the over.

3^rd over – and this time it was the turn of Younis Khan to take mighty Sanath to the cleaners, hitting him for 2 sixes and a four to take 20 off the over.

Despite three not so impressive overs, skipper Mahela decided to give the last over of the innings to Sanath again, but Misbah–ul-Haq, a hitherto unknown name at the international level, hit him for 2 sixes in the over and took 18 off it.

The innings ended with Sanath Jayasuriya having conceded 64 off his 4 overs, which at the time, were the joint most expensive T20I figures, with the man who is no.2 on this list.