In a year featuring the flagship event that 50-over cricket has to offer, the 2019 World Cup understandably hogged all the attention. But with more ODIs played in 2019 than in any preceding year of the decade, 50-over cricket was as happening as it’s ever been.

That meant a slew of memorable performances that occurred on either side of the World Cup. From Jhye Richardson’s career-best performance against 50-over giants India, to Trent Boult’s clinical in swing bowling against the same opposition, that dismantled them for their first sub-100 total in nine years, there was no shortage of excellence with the ball. Below, we look at five of the best spells, outside of the World Cup, from the year gone by.

After their Test team’s confidence had been shattered by their first series defeat at home to India, Australia’s batting unit was infused with a breath of fresh air with the arrival of their one-day specialists, and piled on 288-5 in the first ODI of a three-match series at the Sydney Cricket Ground. But with an all-conquering top three in the opposition ranks, the chase was on… well, until Richardson dismissed Virat Kohli and Ambati Rayudu in the space of three balls in his second over.

Dealt an early jolt, India recovered through a fourth-wicket partnership of 137 between MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma that lifted them from the depths of 4-3. But after Dhoni’s dismissal on 51, Richardson ensured that the opposition would mount no more comebacks, snuffing out Dinesh Karthik and Ravindra Jadeja.

Thanks to Richardson’s efforts, India tumbled to 254-9 in their 50 overs and succumbed to a 34-run defeat, despite a superb century from Rohit.

Trent Boult, 5-21

New Zealand v India
Hamilton
January 31

[caption id=”attachment_134530″ align=”alignnone” width=”800″] Trent Boult’s five-for reduced India to 92[/caption]

Five days after winding up their commitments in Australia, India flew across the Tasman sea to take on Kane Williamson’s New Zealand in a five-match ODI series. Having already swept past the opposition in each of the first three ODIs and claimed the series, the visitors were overwhelming favourites when they arrived for the fourth ODI in Hamilton. But in a rarely seen occurrence of a swinging white ball, Trent Boult destroyed India to send them packing for 92.

In the absence of Kohli, India flapped their wings desperately but sunk in 30.5 overs. Flummoxing a clueless Indian line-up with sudden changes in seam position and getting the ball to move this way and that, Boult ripped through the heart of India’s line-up, accounting for Rohit, Shikhar Dhawan and Shubman Gill, and later Kedar Jadhav and Hardik Pandya, whose big hits saved India the ignominy of their lowest ever ODI total.

Boult sent down all his 10 overs in one go, four of them maidens, and his efforts set India up for their heaviest ODI defeat ever in terms of balls remaining (212).

Oshane Thomas, 5-21

West Indies v England
Gros Islet
March 2

[caption id=”attachment_134531″ align=”alignnone” width=”800″] Oshane Thomas picked up his first five-wicket haul[/caption]

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Jan Frylinck, 5-13

Namibia v Oman
Windhoek
April 27

Ireland v Afghanistan
Belfast
May 21

[caption id=”attachment_134532″ align=”alignnone” width=”800″] Gulbadin Naib registered the best ODI figures for an Afghanistan bowler[/caption]