Lowest Score in ODI Cricket: From Zimbabwe to India

Lowest Team Scores in ODI Cricket History

Zimbabwe recorded the lowest ODI score in history, scoring just 35 runs in 18 overs against Sri Lanka at the Harare Sports Club. Sri Lanka have been the most common opponent (4 times) in the 15 lowest scores recorded in ODI history.

Below is the list of top 15 lowest scores in ODIs

1. Zimbabwe – 35 runs (Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka, Harare 2004)

Sri Lanka’s captain Marvan Atapattu won the toss and elected to field first. The pace trio of Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof and Dilhara Fernando picked 4, 3 and 2 wickets respectively to bundle out Zimbabwe for a lowly 35 runs – the lowest ODI team score in history.

Interestingly, none of the Zimbabwe batters managed to reach double digits. Sri Lanka won the match by 9 wickets inside 10 overs.

2. USA – 35 runs (USA vs Nepal, Kirtipur 2020)

The USA cricket team equalled the record for the lowest score in ODI cricket against hosts Nepal at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, on 12th February, 2020. Put in to bat, USA batters failed to put up any resistance as they were bowled out for just 35 runs in 12 overs.

Opener Xavier Marshall top-scored for USA with 16 runs. For Nepal, spinners Sandeep Lamichhane and Sushan Bhari took 6 and 4 wickets respectively. Nepal won the match by 8 wickets inside six overs.

3. Canada – 36 runs (Canada vs Sri Lanka, Paarl 2003)

The 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup group stage match between Sri Lanka and Canada was a quick one, as Canada were bowled out for only 36 runs, after being asked to bat by Sri Lanka. Pacers Chaminda Vaas took 3 wickets, Prabath Nissanka took 4, and Dilhara Fernando picked up 2.

None of the Canada batters reached the double figures. Opener Desmond Chumney and skipper Joe Harris top-scored with 9 runs each. Sri Lanka won the match inside five overs by 9 wickets.

4. Zimbabwe – 38 runs (Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka, Colombo SSC 2001)

The combination of Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka features on the list again, this time in Sri Lanka’s capital city of Colombo. Sri Lanka won the toss and put the visitors in to bat. Chaminda Vaas was the wrecker-in-chief as he took a career-best eight wickets for just 19 runs to bundle out Zimbabwe for just 38 runs. captain Stuart Carlsile was the top scorer with 16 runs.

Zimbabwe played for 15.2 overs, and Sri Lanka reached the target in just 4.2 overs at the loss of only one wicket. This is the second-fastest ODI victory in terms of balls remaining (274).

5. Sri Lanka – 43 runs (Sri Lanka vs South Africa, Paarl 2012)

The South Africa team won the toss and chose to bat on a good batting surface in the first ODI against Sri Lanka team. Hashim Amla opened the batting for the Proteas and scored his 9th century, and was ably supported by Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers who made half centuries. South Africa set a big target of 302 runs to the visitors.

Sri Lanka was never able to get the chase going, losing both openers without scoring and the first 5 wickets for just 9 runs. Kosala Kulasekara was the only batter to reach the double-digit mark as Sri Lanka were bundled out for a lowly 43. Morne Morkel took 4 wickets and Lonwabo Tsotsobe took 3.

Lowest Score in ODI Cricket World Cups

The lowest score in the ODI Cricket World Cup is 36 by Canada against Sri Lanka on 19th February, 2003. Batting first, Canada were bowled out for just 36 runs in 18.4 overs, with Chaminda Vaas taking 3/15 and Prabath Nissanka taking 4/12.