It is not easy being a T20 bowler. For a format dominated by batsmen, it is very rare for bowlers to end on a high note. Moreover, with run-chases becoming the favourites of batters in the last few years, it has become super difficult to defend totals.
This article, however, will discuss superlative performances of bowlers teaming up to defend totals, even when their batters failed miserably. Here are the lowest totals successfully defended by teams in T20Is.
In this list, we have stuck to the scenarios where the first batting team batted the entire 20 overs or bowled out before the destined overs. This way, we have kept the rain-shortened games away from this list.
Lowest Totals Successfully Defended in T20Is
| Team | Total | Opposition | Opposition Total | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 90/10 | Sierra Leone | 71/10 | Lagos | 2021 |
| Finland | 90/10 | Guernsey | 86/10 | Port Soif | 2024 |
| Mexico | 93/9 | Costa Rica | 35/10 | Guacima | 2024 |
| Jersey | 94/10 | Denmark | 89/10 | Almeria | 2021 |
| Scotland | 94/10 | UAE | 62/10 | Dubai | 2024 |
| Costa Rica | 94/10 | Falkland Islands | 28/10 | Guacima | 2025 |
| Bahamas | 95/9 | Mexico | 71/10 | Buenos Aires | 2024 |
| West Indies | 96/9 | Ireland | 85/8 | Kingston | 2014 |
| Maldives | 97/10 | Thailand | 56/10 | Bangi | 2022 |
| Papua New Guinea | 97/10 | USA | 92/10 | Bulawayo | 2022 |
| Bahamas | 97/10 | Suriname | 71/10 | Buenos Aires | 2024 |
Key Insights on Lowest Totals Successfully Defended in T20Is
Records for Lowest Totals Defended in T20I Cricket
Nigeria and Finland share the record for the lowest total successfully defended in T20I cricket. Both teams were bowled out for 90, though Nigeria secured a 19-run win against Sierra Leone in 2021, while Finland sneaked in a four-run victory against Guernsey in 2024.
Finland and the Bahamas are the two teams that have defended two totals of 100 or fewer runs in T20I cricket.
Pakistan are the only team to defend totals of 150 or fewer runs in more than 20 matches in T20I cricket.
Lowest Scores Defended by Full Member Nations
The West Indies have successfully defended the lowest total among full member teams in T20Is. After being restricted to96 for 9, the West Indies pulled off an 11-run win against Ireland (85/8) in the 2014 Kingston T20I.
The West Indies have also failed to defend the highest team total in T20Is. Their 258 for 5 didn’t prove enough, as South Africa overhauled the 259-run target with seven balls to spare in the 2023 Centurion T20I.
This made it the highest successful run chase (259/4), while the Windies’ total ended up as the highest in a losing cause in T20Is.
Low-Scoring Thrillers in T20 World Cup History
Bangladesh have defended the lowest total in the T20 World Cup. They managed to defend 106 runs against Nepal (85) in Kingstown in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
The 2024 T20 World Cup recorded five successful defences of 120 or fewer runs, the most instances in a single T20 World Cup edition.
Notable Team Totals and Victory Margins
The lowest-ever T20I team total belongs to the Ivory Coast, who were bowled out for just seven runs by Nigeria in the T20 World Cup Africa regional qualifier in 2024.
Nigeria won the match against the Ivory Coast by264 runs, the third-largest win by a team in T20I cricket.
Read Next | Most 5-Wicket Hauls for India in Away Tests
