This article explores the record-breaking instances of the lowest team totals in T20I history.
Lowest Team Total in T20Is
| Team | Score (Overs Batted) | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ivory Coast | 7 (7.3) | Nigeria | Abuja | 24 Nov 2024 |
| Mongolia | 10 (10.0) | Singapore | Bangi | 5 Sep 2024 |
| Isle of Man | 10 (8.4) | Spain | Cartagena | 26 Feb 2023 |
| Mongolia | 12 (8.2) | Japan | Sano | 8 May 2024 |
| Mongolia | 17 (14.2) | Hong Kong | Kuala Lumpur | 31 Aug 2024 |
| Mali | 18 (12.5) | Tanzania | Dar-es-Salaam | 21 Sep 2024 |
| Ivory Coast | 21 (10.4) | Sierra Leone | Abuja | 23 Nov 2024 |
| Turkey | 21 (8.3) | Czech Republic | Ilfov County | 30 Aug 2019 |
| China | 23 (11.2) | Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur | 26 Jul 2023 |
| Mali | 24 (10.3) | Ghana | Dar-es-Salaam | 26 Sep 2024 |
Lowest Totals by Top Teams in T20Is
| Team | Score (Overs Batted) | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honk Kong | 38 (10.4) | Pakistan | Sharjah | 2 Sep 2022 |
| Netherlands | 39 (10.3) | Sri Lanka | Chattogram | 24 Mar 2014 |
| Netherlands | 44 (10.0) | Sri Lanka | Sharjah | 22 Oct 2021 |
| West Indies | 45 (11.5) | England | Basseterre | 8 Mar 2019 |
| Oman | 47 (13.2) | England | North Sound | 13 Jun 2024 |
| Nepal | 53 (14.3) | Ireland | Belfast | 13 Jul 2015 |
| West Indies | 55 (14.2) | England | Dubai | 23 Oct 2021 |
| Afghanistan | 56 (11.5) | South Africa | Tarouba | 26 Jun 2024 |
| Zimbabwe | 57 (12.4) | Pakistan | Bulawayo | 3 Dec 2024 |
| New Zealand | 60 (15.3) | Sri Lanka | Chattogram | 31 Mar 2014 |
Key Insights on Smallest Team Scores in T20I Cricket
World Records for Lowest Innings Totals
Ivory Coast hold the record for the lowest team total in T20I cricket. Nigeria bowled them out for a mere seven runs while defending 271 for 4 in the T20 World Cup Africa sub-regional qualifier in 2024.
As a result, Nigeria won the match by 264 runs, the third-largest run-margin victory by a team in T20Is.
Ivory Coast’s seven all out is also the lowest team total in all men’s T20 cricket.
Mongolia have registered the lowest team total in the first innings of a T20I match. They mustered just 10 runs against Singapore in the T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier in 2024.
Spain bowled out the Isle of Man for 10 runs and took just two deliveries to overhaul the 11-run target in a 2023 match, making it the fastest run chase by a team in T20Is.
The Netherlands and Uganda have registered the joint-lowest team total in the T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka folded the Dutch for 39 runs in 2014, while the West Indies skittled out the Ugandan side on the same score in 2024.
Performance Benchmarks for Full-Member Nations
The West Indies have recorded the lowest team total among full-member countries in T20Is. They were all out for 45 runs against England in the second of the 2019 St Kitts T20I.
Among full-member teams, New Zealand are the only side who’ve been all out for 100 or fewer runs in more than 10 T20I innings.
Frequency and Consistency of Low Scores
Cameroon, Mali, and Mongolia have been bowled out for 50 or fewer runs in nine or more T20I innings.
Mongolia have been all out for fewer than 50 runs four times against Japan, the most instances for a team against an opponent in T20Is.
Rwanda are the only team to have been bowled out for 100 or fewer runs in 25 or more innings in T20Is.
Defensive Records for Low Totals
Nigeria have successfully defended the lowest team total in T20Is, having secured their 90 for 10 against Sierra Leone in a 2021 match.
The Bahamas are the only team to defend two or more below-100 totals in T20Is.
The West Indies are the only Test-playing nation to successfully defend a below-100 total in T20Is, having defended 96 for 9 against Ireland (85/8) in the 2014 Jamaica T20I.
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