Van Niekerk outdoes Benaud in record haul

South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk's remarkable return of 4-0 in their rout of the West Indies has seen her eclipse a record first set nearly 60 years ago by fellow leg-spinning allrounder Richie Benaud.

Van Niekerk put the finishing touches on the Proteas' demolition job on Sunday at Grace Road, taking four wickets in just 20 deliveries to help roll the Windies for 48, their second lowest one-day international total.

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It was the first instance in international cricket history a bowler has taken four wickets for no runs, while just four bowlers have previously recorded figures of 3-0.

In 1959, Benaud became the first to take three for nought, achieving the feat from 3.4 overs (two more balls than van Niekerk) in the first Test against India in Delhi.

While the revered former Australia captain remains the only male player to have taken 3-0, it's happened on three occasions in women's international cricket.

Two of those hauls were also taken by leg-spinners, enhancing the craft's association with match-turning spells.

Australia's Olivia Magno (who took 3-0 in a 1997 World Cup match against Pakistan) and Sri Lanka's Sandamali Dolawatte (who needed just one over to record the same figures against Bangladesh in a 2012 T20) are the two leggies, while England medium pacer Aaran Brindle (against the Windies in 2013) was, until Sunday, the most recent bowler achieve the feat.

After South Africa took just 6.2 overs to record a 10-wicket win over the hapless West Indies, van Niekerk conceded she felt out of rhythm and had been struggling with her length in the lead-in to the match.

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"Not to sound naive, but the ball's not coming out great," the 24-year-old said.

"I don't know what happened. I can't tell you what happened. I can't even tell you I bowled to a plan - I was just hoping to land it, to be honest. 

"I bowled so many full tosses in the nets, I was just thinking, 'Don't bowl a full toss'. I guess they just missed the balls. 

"I can't say I bowled to a plan. I'm going to lie if I said that I did. I'm just glad I pitched the ball."

"It was quite surreal, if I could script it I would not have written it like that."

South Africa face Australia, who won their third-straight World Cup match on Sunday, in their final group stage match on July 15.

THE BEST FIGURES WITH NO RUNS CONCEDED (ALL FORMATS)

Dane van Niekerk - 3.2 overs, 3 maidens, 0 runs, 4 wickets against West Indies in Leicester, 2017 World Cup*

Richie Benaud (AUS): 3.4-3-0-3 against India in Delhi, first Test 1959

Olivia Magno (AUS): 1.4-1-0-4 against Pakistan in Hyderabad, 1997 ODI World Cup

Arran Brindle (ENG): 2-2-0-3 against West Indies in Mumbai,  2013 ODI World Cup

Sandamali Dolawatte (SL): 1-1-0-3 against Bangladesh in Guangzhou, 2012 T20 Asia Cup

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Australia World Cup squad: Sarah Aley, Kristen Beams, Alex Blackwell (vc), Nicole Bolton, Ashleigh Gardner, Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Meg Lanning (c), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Belinda Vakarewa, Elyse Villani, Amanda-Jade Wellington.

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