Imran Tahir breaks Proteas CWC record for most wickets

A brilliant dive to his right saw Imran Tahir become South Africa’s leading wicket taker in the Cricket World Cup on Sunday.

The Proteas are squaring off against Pakistan at Lord’s, with both teams trying to salvage the slimmest of chances of making it to the last four.

It was the Pakistanis who won the toss and opted to bat first on a flat track and, with the first two wickets to fall in their innings, Imran Tahir broke a 16-year-old national record, overtaking the legendary Allan Donald.

The speedster finished his career with 38 wickets in 25 matches, and Tahir’s superb caught and bowled to dismiss Imam-Ul-Haq took him to 39 scalps in what is his last World Cup before hanging up his boots.

Also high on the list of most World Cup wickets by a South African is fast bowler Dale Steyn, who made the trip to England, but returned home without bowling a single delivery after failing to recover from an injury he picked up in the lead-up to the tournament.

At 35 years of age and with four years to go before the next edition of the competition, Steyn is unlikely to add to his 23 wickets, and sits in fifth place behind Shaun Pollock and Morné Morkel, who have 31 and 26 scalps respectively.

In the overall stakes, even Tahir’s record is some way off Glenn McGrath, who is the all-time leading wicket taker in the World Cup.

The Aussie great took 71 scalps between 1996 and 2007, with 26 of those coming in his last World Cup – still a record for most wickets in a single tournament.

Of the active players, Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga has the most wickets, having worked his way to 51 in the shock win over England on Friday.

Most World Cup wickets by a South African

Imran Tahir – 39 (20 matches)

Allan Donald – 38 (25 matches)

Shaun Pollock – 31 (31 matches)

Morke Morkel – 26 (14 matches)

Dale Steyn – 23 (14 matches)