Saurabh Netravalkar produced the greatest bowling spell in Major League Cricket history with sensational figures of 6/9 for Washington Freedom against San Francisco Unicorns on July 22, 2023. Since MLC began in 2023, many bowlers have delivered match-winning performances, but none have matched the dominance of Netravalkar’s record-breaking spell.
The left-arm pacer, who also works as a software engineer at Oracle, destroyed the Unicorns batting lineup with accuracy and swing. Across three completed MLC seasons, his unforgettable performance still stands as the best bowling figures in a single innings in league history.
What Are the Best Bowling Figures in an Innings in MLC?
In T20 cricket, bowling figures represent overs bowled, runs conceded, and wickets taken in a single innings. Since MLC’s launch in 2023, only three bowlers have taken five wickets in an innings, and six four-wicket hauls have been recorded across all three seasons.
Top 10 Best Bowling Figures in an Innings in MLC
| Rank | Player | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Team | Opposition | Ground | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SN Netravalkar | 3.5 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 2.34 | Washington | v SF | Morrisville | 22 Jul 2023 |
| 2 | MJ Owen | 3.0 | 0 | 17 | 5 | 5.66 | Washington | v SF | Dallas | 28 Jun 2025 |
| 3 | WD Parnell | 4.0 | 0 | 20 | 5 | 5.00 | Seattle | v Texas | Morrisville | 21 Jul 2023 |
| 4 | AF Milne | 3.4 | 1 | 23 | 5 | 6.27 | Texas | v Seattle | Lauderhill | 5 Jul 2025 |
| 5 | Mohammad Mohsin | 3.0 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 2.66 | Texas | v Los Angeles | Dallas | 13 Jul 2023 |
| 6 | R Ravindra | 2.4 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 4.12 | Washington | v SF | Dallas | 25 Jul 2024 |
| 7 | Mohammad Mohsin | 3.5 | 0 | 13 | 4 | 3.39 | Texas | v SF | Morrisville | 10 Jul 2024 |
| 8 | R Ravindra | 3.5 | 0 | 16 | 4 | 4.17 | Washington | v Texas | Dallas | 19 Jul 2024 |
| 9 | TA Boult | 4.0 | 0 | 17 | 4 | 4.25 | MI New York | v Los Angeles | Lauderhill | 3 Jul 2025 |
| 10 | IG Holland | 4.0 | 0 | 19 | 4 | 4.75 | Washington | v Seattle | Oakland | 14 Jun 2025 |
Key Observations
Washington Freedom dominates the list with five of the top 10 spells, reflecting their back-to-back finals appearances and 2024 title. Texas Super Kings contribute three entries through Mohammad Mohsin and Adam Milne.
Pace bowling accounts for eight of the ten spells, with Rachin Ravindra the only specialist spinner featured. Five of the ten spells were bowled at an economy under 5.00, remarkable in T20 cricket.
Player-by-Player Analysis
1. Saurabh Netravalkar – 6/9 | Washington vs San Francisco | Morrisville | 22 Jul 2023
Netravalkar’s 6/9 remains the best figures in MLC history. He dismissed Marcus Stoinis, Shadab Khan, and Matthew Wade before returning in the final over to complete his haul, bowling San Francisco out for 103 chasing 134.
A left-arm fast-medium bowler who plays for the USA while working as a software engineer at Oracle, he is best known internationally for defending 18 in a Super Over against Pakistan at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
| Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 | 9 | 6 | 2.34 | Washington won by 30 runs |
2. Mitchell Owen – 5/17 | Washington vs San Francisco | Dallas | 28 Jun 2025
Owen became only the third bowler in MLC history to take a five-wicket haul, collapsing the Unicorns from 97/2 to 157/9.
Primarily an explosive top-order batter, his Player of the Match spell combined pace variations with sharp in-swing. He was simultaneously among the tournament’s leading run-scorers in MLC 2025.
| Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 | 17 | 5 | 5.66 | Washington won by 12 runs |
3. Wayne Parnell – 5/20 | Seattle vs Texas | Morrisville | 21 Jul 2023
Parnell bowled the first five-wicket haul in MLC history, swinging the ball up front and mixing his lengths expertly. Captaining Seattle Orcas in Season 1, he guided them to the final and earned Player of the Match as the Orcas won by eight wickets.
A South African international with over 300 T20 appearances, he previously took 11 wickets in the 2009 ICC Champions Trophy.
| Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 20 | 5 | 5.00 | Seattle won by 8 wickets |
4. Adam Milne – 5/23 | Texas vs Seattle | Lauderhill | 5 Jul 2025
Milne’s tearaway spell propelled TSK to the top of the 2025 points table with a 51-run win.
The New Zealand right-arm quick took 14 wickets in five innings in MLC 2025 at an average of 8.5, making it one of the most devastating single-season returns in the league’s history.
| Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4 | 1 | 23 | 5 | 6.27 | Texas won by 51 runs |
5. Mohammad Mohsin – 4/8 | Texas vs Los Angeles | Dallas | 13 Jul 2023
A domestic wild-card pick for TSK’s inaugural campaign, Mohsin upstaged international stars by dismissing Sunil Narine, Adam Zampa, and Lockie Ferguson in a 3-over spell.
Born in Pakistan and now representing the USA, he moved to America in 2021 and was identified through the Dallas Premier League. He leads TSK’s all-time wicket tally in MLC.
| Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 | 8 | 4 | 2.66 | Texas won by 69 runs |
6. Rachin Ravindra – 4/11 | Washington vs San Francisco | Dallas | 25 Jul 2024
Ravindra’s T20 career-best came in the MLC 2024 Qualifier, where his left-arm spin dismissed the dangerous Sanjay Krishnamurthi early and derailed the Unicorns’ chase.
He finished as Washington’s second-leading wicket-taker in 2024 with 12 wickets at an average of 6.08, taking two four-wicket hauls across the knockout rounds.
| Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 4.12 | Washington won by 7 wickets |
7. Mohammad Mohsin – 4/13 | Texas vs San Francisco | Morrisville | 10 Jul 2024
Mohsin’s second four-wicket haul made him the first bowler in MLC history to record multiple such performances.
His 2024 spell showed clear evolution from his debut season, sharper variations, more consistent lengths, and a greater ability to dismiss set batters.
| Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 | 13 | 4 | 3.39 |
8. Rachin Ravindra – 4/16 | Washington vs Texas | Dallas | 19 Jul 2024
Ravindra’s second four-wicket haul of the 2024 season confirmed his status as a genuine match-winning bowler beyond just handy part-time spin.
Seven of his 12 tournament wickets came in the knockout phase, though his league-stage consistency was equally important to Washington’s title run.
| Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 | 16 | 4 | 4.17 |
9. Trent Boult – 4/17 | MI New York vs Los Angeles | Lauderhill | 3 Jul 2025
Boult dismissed Unmukt Chand with a golden duck on the first ball of the innings, then bowled Andre Russell and Andre Fletcher to dismantle LAKR’s top three inside three overs.
He returned to remove Sherfane Rutherford’s counterattack, completing a classic left-arm swing spell. A Mumbai Indians veteran across their global franchise network, Boult was bought back by MI in IPL 2025 for ₹12.50 crore.
| Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 17 | 4 | 4.25 | MI New York won by 8 wickets |
10. Ian Holland – 4/19 | Washington vs Seattle | Oakland | 14 Jun 2025
Holland restricted Seattle to 145/9 after they had reached 66/1 at the end of the powerplay.
The USA-based domestic seamer struck twice in the 14th over and removed Cameron Gannon to cap his spell, earning Player of the Match. His legcutter was particularly effective against the Orcas’ middle order.
| Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 19 | 4 | 4.75 | Washington won by 5 wickets |
Team-Wise Breakdown
| Team | Entries | Best Spell |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Freedom | 5 | 6/9 (Netravalkar) |
| Texas Super Kings | 3 | 5/23 (Milne) |
| Seattle Orcas | 1 | 5/20 (Parnell) |
| MI New York | 1 | 4/17 (Boult) |
Season-Wise Distribution
| Season | Spells | Top Spell |
|---|---|---|
| MLC 2023 | 4 | 6/9 — Netravalkar |
| MLC 2024 | 3 | 4/11 — Ravindra |
| MLC 2025 | 3 | 5/17 — Owen |
Bowling Style Breakdown
Pace accounts for eight of the top 10 spells, reflecting MLC’s typically flat, true surfaces that reward swing and seam over spin. Rachin Ravindra (left-arm orthodox) and Mohammad Mohsin (leg-break) are the two spinners represented, each appearing twice.
FAQs
Saurabh Netravalkar with 6/9 vs San Francisco, July 22, 2023.
Three — Netravalkar (6/9), Owen (5/17), Parnell (5/20), and Milne (5/23).
Washington Freedom with five.
Mohammad Mohsin and Rachin Ravindra jointly, with two each.
Netravalkar’s 6/9 at 2.34, followed by Mohsin’s 4/8 at 2.66.
Rachin Ravindra’s 4/11 vs San Francisco, July 25, 2024.
Dallas and Morrisville have each hosted three of the top 10.
