Lowest Innings Total in ODI
Over the years, cricket has evolved as a batsman’s game. With the advent of T20 cricket, bowlers have found it extremely hard to produce goods consistently. Today, no score is termed as a safe total, even in ODIs. On quite a few occasions, teams have chased down total more than 300 runs. Scoring a 300-plus total is no longer looked an improbable task.
However, there have been days when the batting sides have failed as a unit. It could be for various reasons. Sometimes, one particular bowler produces an exceptional spell. Often the whole bowling unit hunts as a pack. In such situations, conditions have helped them a lot.
On a seaming pitch with the ball doing a lot, batsmen have found it hard. It eventually results in a batting collapse.
In this article, we take a look at the 5 lowest inning totals recorded in ODIs:
#5 Sri Lanka (43 run-total against South Africa)
Interestingly, Sri Lanka holds the record for scoring the fifth-lowest inning total scored in ODI cricket history. A superb bowling effort from South Africa helped the side bundled out Sri Lanka for just 43 runs.
Riding on an outstanding century by Hashim Amla, South Africa scored a mammoth 301 runs in 50 overs. Hashim Amla scored 112 runs off128 balls. Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers too supported him brilliantly with 72 and 52 respectively.
South African bowlers, in reply, decimated Sri Lanka for just 43 runs. Morne Morkel led the charge with a superb opening spell. He picked the crucial wickets of Upul Tharanga and Kumar Sangakkara for 0 and 4 respectively. Wickets fell like a pack of cards afterward as Sri Lanka were all out under 20 overs. Kulasekara top-scored with the bat for his 19 off 46 balls. Morne Morkel produced a sensational spell 4 for 10 runs in his 6 overs, while Lonwabo Tsotsobe too contributed with 3 for 19 in his 6 overs.
#4 Zimbabwe (38 run-total against Sri Lanka)
In the early 2000s, Zimbabwe possessed quite a strong start on paper. However, in the first match of the Triangular series in 2001, Chaminda Vaas made a mockery of the batting unit as he took eight wickets for just 19 runs in 8 overs. Zimbabwe, as a result, folded for just 38 runs in 15.4 overs. Skipper, Carlisle did spend a little time at the crease before departing for 16 off 35 balls. All the other batsmen departed in single digits. Sri Lanka chased down the total in 4.2 overs.
#3 Canada (36 run-total against Sri Lanka)
The 18th match of the 2003 ICC World Cup saw Sri Lanka ripping apart Canada’s batting line up. The bowlers hunted in a pack and bundled out Canada for just 36 runs in 18.4 overs. Half of the side went back to the pavilion inside the first ten overs of the inning, thanks to a sensational opening spell from Chaminda Vaas and R Nissanka. It was just a matter of time after that. Canada’s 36-run total is the third-lowest in the history of ODI cricket.
#2 United States of America (35 run-total against Nepal)
The recently held ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 saw one of the lowest scores ever recorded on a cricket field. Prominent spinner, Sandeep Lamichhane, and S Bhari went through the USA’s batting line up.
Besides, opener X Marshall, ever other batsmen got out in single digits as the USA was bundled out for only 35 runs in the innings. Sandeep Lamichhane was adjudged player of the match for his excellent figures of 6 for 16 in his 6 overs. Nepal, in reply, reached home in just 5.2 overs. USA’s 35-run total is the second-lowest inning total in ODI history.
#1 Zimbabwe (35 run-total against Sri Lanka)
Zimbabwe holds the record for scoring the lowest inning total in ODI cricket history. Once again, it was Sri Lanka who went through Zimbabwe’s batting line up. Chaminda Vaas, once again, produced a sensational spell of 9 overs. He took four important wickets of Brendan Taylor, Elton Chigumbura, Prosper Utseya, and Alester Maregwede. He was equally supported by Dilhara Fernando and Farveez Mahroof, who claimed 3 and 2 wickets respectively.
Zimbabwe was eventually folded for just 35 runs in 18 overs. No player couldn’t even cross the double-figure mark, with D Ebrahim top-scoring with 7 off 10 balls. Sri Lanka chased down the total in 9.2 overs.
