Tahir storms into all-time top 10

Imran Tahir's bewitching spell rolled the Windies and catapulted him into the record books overnight, with the South African now the proud owner of the ninth-best ODI bowling figures of all time. Here we take a look at the top 10.

10. Winston Davis (WI) 7-51 (10.3) v Australia, June 1983

The longest-standing record on this list and the passage of time does nothing to diminish the quality of Davis's performance against the Aussies in the '83 World Cup. In a 60-over match played across two days at Headingley, David had to wait until the second morning to unleash his missiles. The 24-year-old was only selected because Malcolm Marshall and Joel Garner were injured, but those legends couldn't have fared much better, Davis taking six of the final seven wickets to fall to lead his side to a thumping win.

9. Imran Tahir (SA) 7-45 (9) v West Indies, June 2016

Tahir returned the best figures by a South African in ODIs as he ran through the West Indies in sensational fashion in St Kitts. The leg-spinner was in irresistible form as he became the fastest Protea to 100 ODI wickets (fourth-fastest overall) and teased and tormented the Windies, taking three wickets in one over and using the wrong'un as a lethal weapon in his side's 139-run win.

8. Aaqib Javed (Pak) 7-37 (10) v India, October 1991

There can be few better occasions for a Pakistani to produce his finest performance than in a tournament final against bitter rivals India. Such was the case for Aaqib Javed, who returned what was at the time the best ODI figures in history to hand his side the Wills Trophy in Sharjah. In the process, the paceman completed what must rank as one of the best ODI hat-tricks recorded: first, he broke the opening stand with the wicket of Navjot Sidhu, before removing legendary middle-order duo Mohammad Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar for golden ducks.   

7. Waqar Younis (Pak) 7-36 v England, June 2001

Waqar was past his best by the time the 21st century rolled around but clearly still lethal on his day. During a match in which victory was ultimately conceded to Pakistan amid troubling scenes of crowd violence at Headingley, the Pakistani swing king revisited his best from a decade earlier. In a sizzling spell, he removed England's top six and returned later to snare another, leaving the quick with 7-37 – then the third-best figures in ODI history. For good measure (and perhaps incidentally in the context of this list), he inflicted similar pain on Australia two days later, taking 6-59 to lead his side to a 36-run win.

6. Tim Southee (NZ) 7-33 v England, February 2015

Southee was a key figure in New Zealand's charge to a maiden World Cup final in the 2015 edition of the tournament, and was at his best against England in Wellington. In a devastating display of swing bowling, Southee took care of England's openers and returned later to wreak havoc, the speedster the main man in a dramatic English collapse of that saw them lose 7-19 to end their innings at 123 – a target the Black Caps chased down in 12.2 overs.

5. Muthiah Muralidaran (SL) 7-30 v India, October 2000

The magical Murali ran through India in Sharjah like the proverbial hot knife through butter, claiming what was for about 14 months the best figures in the history of ODIs. With 294 to defend, Murali went to work, removing Robin Singh for his 200th one-day wicket, then Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh and four more batsmen in a stunning rout that handed Sri Lanka a 68-run win over their fierce rivals.

4. Andy Bichel (Aus) 7-20 v England, March 2003

Bichel was often an unsung hero throughout his time with Australia but one fine day in Port Elizabeth during the 2003 World Cup, he thoroughly stole the limelight. With feared fast-bowling duo Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee strangely ineffective, England raced to 0-66 inside 10 overs. Enter Bichel. The Queenslander grabbed three wickets in his first two overs to turn the innings on its head, then added another four to add his name to the history books. Later, he steered Australia to a miraculous win, making 34 not out to complete an unforgettable day for the speedster.

3. Glenn McGrath (Aus) 7-15 v Namibia, February 2003

McGrath in his pomp versus Namibia on the world stage for the first time was always destined to be a mismatch. And so it proved. The Narromine-born speedster had a field day against the World Cup debutants in Potchefstroom, inducing five edges for his 'keeper and cordon (four caught Adam Gilchrist, one caught Ricky Ponting at second slip), and adding a bowled and lbw to the most successful World Cup spell of all time.

2. Shahid Afridi (Pak) 7-12 v West Indies, July 2013

With his roller-coaster career into its 17th year, Afridi took a remarkable 7-12 against the West Indies in Providence in 2012. The brisk leg-spinner took the last seven wickets of the innings, removing names like Lendl Simmons, Dwayne Bravo, Marlon Samuels and Kieron Pollard to level the Windies for 98 in a 126-run win. Earlier, he'd hammered five sixes in a 55-ball 76, just 'cause he could.

1. Chaminda Vaas (SL) 8-19 v Zimbabwe, December 2001

On one amazing day in Colombo, Vaas had a field day running through a hapless Zimbabwe outfit. Controlling his swing beautifully, the left-armer took a wicket with his first ball, later claimed Sri Lanka's first ODI hat-trick, and went on to become the first bowler to take eight wickets in the format. He finished with 8-19 (Murali spoiled the party with the two final wickets) as Zimbabwe were skittled for 38. Given the calibre of the opposition, it probably wasn't Vaas' most rewarding spell, but statistically, it was unprecedented.