Bowling spells with more wickets taken than runs conceded

Honourable mentions (for almost making the cut)

Indian spinners Anil Kumble and Sunil Joshi are honourable mentions in this list

Anil Kumble (3.1-1-5-5)

This spell just had to somehow make it to this list owing to the fact that it was in a Twenty20 game. The shortest format of the game has known to be very unkind to its bowlers. Getting more wickets than runs conceded is hard to imagine, and Kumble almost pulled it off.

Defending champions Rajasthan Royals were chasing a target of 134 set by the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the second match of the 2009 IPL season as Cape Town was heavily assisting the bowlers that day.

Rahul Dravid played brilliantly for his 66 and guided his team to 134 with help from newly appointed captain Kevin Pietersen. In fact, no-one else from the Bangalore side could even reach double digits.

In the chase, Rajasthan were struggling at 47-5 in 11 overs. Kumble put an end to their misery by cleaning the house and laying claim to all remaining five wickets to bowl the Royals out for 58.

Kumble gave away just five runs in his five-for. His figures of 3.1-1-5-5 are unreal for an IPL spell and is one of the finest spells the ten-year-old league has witnessed.

Sunil Joshi (10-6-6-5)

In September 1999, Sunil Joshi bowled a spell that he will always be remembered for. It was the LG cup, a quadrangular tournament featuring India, South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe. This was the second match of the tournament and the South Africans fielded a formidable side, while India were without captain Azharuddin and ace spinner Anil Kumble.

This gave Sunil Joshi, who was generally sidelined because of Kumble, a chance to feature in the playing eleven.

The South Africans opted to bat first so that they wouldn't face the wrath of the Indian spinners on a pitch subjected to wear and tear. There was no respite for them, however.

Sunil Joshi bowled beautifully and bagged five scalps while giving away just 6 runs in his full quota of 10 overs. To this day, his economy of 0.60 remains the fourth most economical spell by anyone completing his full quota of overs. He deservedly got the man of the match laurel for this exemplary performance that defined his career.