Most wickets by a fast bowler in a five-match ODI series

Lasith Malinga has taken many a scalp over his illustrious career so far. Consistency is what separates good bowlers from the great. Performing in one game is an achievement but for a bowler, the biggest challenge is to maintain the performance level in all matches played during the series.

Jasprit Bumrah, with 15 wickets in the recent ODI series against Sri Lanka broke the world record for most wickets in a 5 match ODI series by a pacer and inked his name in the record books.

Here we look at the top five bowlers with the most number of wickets in a five-match ODI series.

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#5. Lasith Malinga- 13 wickets against England, 2006

Lasith Malinga emerged in international cricket thanks to his unorthodox bowling action but failed to reap rewards in his initial games. However, the pace bowler blossomed in international cricket for the first time during Sri Lanka's tour of England in 2006.

In the first game of the series, Malinga claimed three wickets which included the prize wicket of Kevin Pieterson and enabled Sri Lanka to defend 257 runs. In the second ODI, the pace bowler wrecked England's top order and sent back M Trescothick and Ian Bell to ensure England crumbled while chasing 320 runs.

In the third and the fourth games, he claimed two wickets each to keep the noose tight and finished the series on a high note by claiming four wickets in the 5th ODI. On a batting friendly surface where three hundreds were scored, Malinga picked three wickets in his last two overs to prevent England from scoring quickly in the death overs.

Malinga's 13 wickets in five matches played a vital role in Sri Lanka's thumping 5-0 win against England.

#4. Darren Gough- 13 wickets vs New Zealand, 2001/2

Darren Gough, the talented pacer from England, claimed 13 wickets in five games against New Zealand in 2001/2 and proved his bowling mettle.

In the first game, while chasing a modest total of 197, New Zealand was two down for 136 courtesy of a 99 run opening partnership. But then Gough came back and injected life into the game. He picked four wickets in no time and created panic in the home team's camp.

Nathan Astle's calm fifty steered the hosts home and Gough finished with four wickets. In the second game, the right-arm pacer took three wickets but England's batting imploded and the visitors lost the second game as well.

For the visitors, the victory finally arrived in the third game and Gough's two wickets in eight overs allowed England to defend 244 runs. In the fourth ODI, Gough once again took two wickets and while in the fifth game, the decider, he ended with two wickets as well.

England lost the series 3-2, but the pace bowler impressed everyone with 13 wickets at an average of 14.38.

#3. Daryl Tuffey- 13 wickets vs Pakistan, 2000/1

Daryl Tuffey, with his tall body and probing pace, steered New Zealand to several wins in cricket and one of the highlights of his career came in 2000/1 when he took 13 wickets in five ODIs against Pakistan.

In the first ODI, Pakistan humbled the hosts by winning the game by six wickets, but riding on Tuffey's four-wicket haul, New Zealand completely dominated the second ODI. The Kiwi pacer castled Saeed Anwar on the first ball of the game and took two more wickets in his opening spell to destroy the visitors.

In the third ODI too, the pace bowler picked three wickets but the hosts lost the game thanks to irresponsible batting. In the fourth ODI, Tuffey took two wickets in his first two overs and then accounted for Waqar Younis to steer his team home.

In the fifth and deciding game, the right-hand bowler proved expensive but still ended with two wickets. New Zealand won the fifth game and ODI series and Tuffey emerged as the highest wicket-taker with 13 wickets.

#2. Clint McKay- 14 wickets, vs Pakistan, 2009/10

Clint Mckay had a dream start to his international career as he took 14 wickets in his only second ODI series.

Against the touring Pakistan in 2009/10, McKay took three wickets each in the first three ODIs. Bowling as first-change, the Aussie bowler was very good with his line and lengths and his bowling in the middle overs allowed Australia to keep the visiting batsmen in check.

In the fourth game, McKay took only one wicket but gave away only 16 runs in seven overs. In the final ODI, he registered his then best figures and took four wickets in an inning for the first time.

Thanks to the right-arm bowler's 14 wickets in five games, Australia pulverized Pakistan 5-0.

#1.Jasprit Bumrah- 15 wickets vs Sri Lanka, 2017

Jasprit Bumrah's unconventional bowling action fast-tracked his journey into India's ODI team and his death bowling made him an effective bowler. However, it was his performance in the Sri Lanka series in 2017, that stamped his bowling prowess.

In the absence of India's frontline pacers, young Bumrah shouldered the responsibility and ended with 15 wickets, a world record for a five match ODI series. In the first match, his two wickets helped India to win the game with ease while his four wickets in the next ODI prevented the hosts from amassing a massive score.

Bumrah's best performance came in the third ODI where he picked his first five-wicket haul and routed Sri Lanka for just 217 runs in their stipulated 50 overs. In the last two ODIs, he claimed two wickets in each game and emerged as the leader of India's bowling attack.

The pace bowler picked 15 wickets in five ODIs but more importantly returned home as a matured limited overs bowler.