Taking five wickets in a T20 match isn’t just difficult, it’s almost unheard of.
In the entire history of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, only six bowlers have managed it.
That’s across nine editions, hundreds of matches, and thousands of overs bowled.
The format doesn’t give you time.
Batters swing freely, partnerships break before you can settle into a spell, and you’re done bowling inside 15 minutes.
A five-wicket haul in T20 cricket means you’ve not just bowled well, you’ve dismantled a team almost single-handedly.
This is the complete record of every five-wicket performance in Women’s T20 World Cup history, and what made each one unforgettable.
Most Five-Wicket Hauls in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup History
Why Five-Wicket Hauls Are So Rare in T20 Cricket
In Test cricket, bowlers have 90 overs to work with. In ODIs, it’s 50.
But in T20s, you get four overs maximum, and that’s if your captain trusts you with all of them.
Even the best bowlers struggle to take five wickets because:
- You’re only bowling 16% of the innings
- Batters take risks against everyone, including you
- Field restrictions make containment harder
- You need luck to get five dismissals in 24 deliveries
That’s why these performances stand out.
They aren’t just good spells, they’re statistical outliers.
Complete List of Five-Wicket Hauls in Women’s T20 World Cup
Here’s every bowler who’s reached this milestone, along with match details and figures:
| Bowler | Figures | Opposition | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priyanka Roy (India) | 5/16 in 3.5 overs | Pakistan | Taunton | 2009 |
| Julie Hunter (Australia) | 5/22 in 3.2 overs | West Indies | Colombo | 2012 |
| Sune Luus (South Africa) | 5/8 in 4.0 overs | Ireland | Chennai | 2016 |
| Deandra Dottin (West Indies) | 5/5 in 3.4 overs | Bangladesh | Providence | 2018 |
| Ashleigh Gardner (Australia) | 5/12 in 3.0 overs | New Zealand | Paarl | 2023 |
| Renuka Singh (India) | 5/15 in 4.0 overs | England | Gqeberha | 2023 |
Breaking Down Each Historic Performance
Priyanka Roy Opens the Account (2009)
India’s Priyanka Roy created history in Taunton when she became the first bowler ever to take five wickets in a Women’s T20 World Cup match.
Her figures of 5/16 came against Pakistan in conditions that helped disciplined seam bowling.
What stood out wasn’t just the wicket count—it was how she controlled the game.
Pakistan never got going. Roy kept hitting good lengths, forcing errors, and didn’t give batters room to free their arms.
This spell set the template.
It showed that even in T20s, if you bowl to a plan and hit your areas consistently, you can run through a side.
Julie Hunter’s Colombo Masterclass (2012)
Australia’s Julie Hunter proved that pace and accuracy could break any partnership.
Her 5/22 against the West Indies in Colombo came when the opposition was building momentum and looking dangerous.
Hunter’s strength was her ability to hit the pitch hard and rush batters.
She didn’t need swing or seam movement—just relentless pressure.
Every time the West Indies tried to counter-attack, she found a way through.
This was clinical fast bowling under pressure, and it confirmed Australia’s depth in their pace attack.
Sune Luus Spins a Web (2016)
South Africa’s Sune Luus produced one of the most economical five-wicket hauls you’ll ever see.
Against Ireland in Chennai, she finished with 5/8, an economy rate of just 2.00 in a T20 match.
Her leg-spin was unplayable that day.
She mixed her pace beautifully, varied her length, and never let batters settle.
Ireland couldn’t read her, couldn’t score off her, and eventually couldn’t survive her.
What makes this spell special is the control.
Taking five wickets is hard. Doing it while giving away less than two runs per over is absurd.
Dottin’s Record-Breaking Spell (2018)
Deandra Dottin holds the best bowling figures in Women’s T20 World Cup history, and it’s not even close.
Her 5/5 against Bangladesh in Providence is a performance that may never be matched.
She bowled 3.4 overs, took five wickets, conceded five runs, and destroyed Bangladesh’s hopes.
The spell had everything: pace, accuracy, aggression, and an unshakable plan.
Bangladesh didn’t just lose wickets—they were blown away.
Dottin’s spell ended the contest before it really began.
In T20 cricket, where most wicket in t20 world cup women’s competitions see high-scoring games, this kind of dominance is almost mythical.
Ashleigh Gardner Takes Down New Zealand (2023)
Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner showed why off-spin remains dangerous in modern T20 cricket.
Her 5/12 against New Zealand in Paarl came in just three overs, which meant she was striking every 3.6 deliveries.
Gardner’s variations troubled New Zealand throughout.
She broke key partnerships, slowed down scoring when it mattered, and kept taking wickets even when batters tried different approaches.
This wasn’t just about skill, it was about reading the game.
Gardner knew when to attack, when to slow things down, and when to go for the kill.
Renuka Singh Swings India to Victory (2023)
India’s Renuka Singh became the latest member of this exclusive club with her 5/15 against England in Gqeberha.
She used conventional swing in helpful conditions and made England’s top order look ordinary.
Renuka’s spell came in the powerplay and middle overs, which is the toughest time to take wickets in T20s.
Batters are looking to attack, field restrictions are in place, and one bad ball can ruin your figures.
But she didn’t bowl bad balls. She kept swinging it, kept asking questions, and kept picking up wickets.
By the time England realized what was happening, half their side was back in the pavilion.
Which Teams Dominate This List?
India leads the way with two five-wicket hauls—Priyanka Roy in 2009 and Renuka Singh in 2023.
Australia also has two, from Julie Hunter and Ashleigh Gardner.
South Africa and the West Indies have one each, courtesy of Sune Luus and Deandra Dottin.
What’s interesting is the gap between performances. From 2009 to 2023, only six bowlers managed it.
That’s roughly one every two and a half years. It shows just how difficult this achievement is, even for the world’s best.
Most Wickets in T20 World Cup 2024 and Beyond
The 2024 edition didn’t produce any five-wicket hauls, which reinforces how rare they are.
While several bowlers finished as the highest wicket-taker in women’s T20 World Cup 2024 with impressive tallies, none managed to take five in a single innings.
That’s the reality of T20 cricket.
Consistency across matches matters more than one explosive spell.
But when someone does break through with a five-wicket performance, it’s remembered forever.
Expert Insight: What Makes a Five-Wicket Spell in T20s?
Taking five wickets in four overs requires more than skill.
You need:
- Perfect conditions on the day – whether it’s swing, spin grip, or pace-friendly bounce
- A batting collapse to capitalize on – one or two breakthroughs create pressure that leads to more
- Your captain’s trust – you need to bowl all four overs, and at the right time
- A bit of luck – edges that carry, LBWs that are given, catches that stick
Most importantly, you need belief. When you’ve got three or four wickets, and there’s a chance at history, you can’t hold back. Every bowler on this list went for it when it mattered.
That’s what separates these performances from regular good spells.
FAQs
- Who has the best bowling figures in Women’s T20 World Cup history?
Deandra Dottin holds the record with 5/5 against Bangladesh in 2018. Her economy rate of 1.36 in that spell is the lowest for any five-wicket haul.
- How many bowlers have taken five wickets in a Women’s T20 World Cup match?
Only six bowlers have achieved this milestone as of 2026: Priyanka Roy, Julie Hunter, Sune Luus, Deandra Dottin, Ashleigh Gardner, and Renuka Singh.
- Which Women’s T20 World Cup edition had the most five-wicket hauls?
The 2023 edition saw two five-wicket performances—Ashleigh Gardner’s 5/12 and Renuka Singh’s 5/15—making it the only tournament with multiple such spells.
- Who was the first bowler to take a five-wicket haul in the Women’s T20 World Cup?
India’s Priyanka Roy was the first, taking 5/16 against Pakistan in Taunton during the 2009 edition.
- Has any bowler taken five wickets in a Women’s T20 World Cup final?
No. All six five-wicket hauls have come in group stage or early knockout matches, not in finals.
The Rarity That Defines Greatness
Five-wicket hauls in the Women’s T20 World Cup aren’t just rare, they’re generational moments.
From Priyanka Roy’s historic first in 2009 to Renuka Singh’s swing masterclass in 2023, each performance changed the course of a match.
These spells prove that even in the shortest format, one bowler can take control.
They remind us why cricket fans still celebrate individual brilliance, even in a team sport.
As the women’s World Cup most wicket records continue to evolve and new talents emerge, this list will grow. But it won’t grow quickly.
That’s what makes every entry on it so special.
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