5 Lowest totals in Men's ODI World Cup history

Sri Lanka faced a humiliating defeat against India in the 33^rd match of the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023. They registered one of the lowest totals in the history of the men’s ODI World Cup with an embarrassing defeat by 302 runs against the hosts of the ongoing prestigious cricket quadrennial.

Now, Kusal Mendis and co. have lost their all-chances of qualification to the semi-finals of the current edition of the ODI World Cup 2023. Apart from that, Rohit Sharma’s India have become the first team to make it to the semi-finals of the tournament.

With said that, here we’ll have a look at the lowest totals scored by a team in an innings of a match in the history men’s ODI World Cup since its inception 48 years back in the year 1975

Bangladesh – 58/all-out in 18.5 overs vs West Indies, ODI World Cup 2011

Bangladesh were hosting West Indies in the 19^th match of the ODI World Cup 2011 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. The hosts skipper Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and decided to bat first. Batting first, the home side completely surrendered against the Caribbean bowling attack and got bundled out on the score of just 58 runs in 18.5 overs. Darren Sammy’s men comfortably chased down the target in just 12.2 overs, scoring 59 runs for the loss of 1 wicket and won the match by 9 wickets.

Sri Lanka – 55/all-out in 19.4 overs against India, ODI World Cup 2023

The hosts India took on Sri Lanka in an ODI World Cup match at the Wankhede Stadium after a long wait of 12 years since they defeated them to win the historic ODI World Cup 2011. This time, both teams faced each other in the 33^rd match of the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023; the Islanders’ skipper Kusal Mendis won the toss and decided to bowl first.

Batting first, the men in blue posted a mammoth total of 357 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in the allotted 50 overs. While defending the target, the mighty Indian pace trio of Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah completely ripped apart the Sri Lankan batting and bundled them out on the score of just 55 runs in 19.4 overs to help India register their biggest win in the history of ODI World Cup.

Namibia – 45/all-out in 14 overs vs Australia, ODI World Cup 2003

The mighty and World Champion Australia faced the minnows Namibia in a league match of the ODI World Cup 2003 in Potchefstroom on February 27, 2003. The Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting won the toss and decided to bat first; batting first, the Aussies posted a massive total of 301 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in the allotted 50 overs.

While defending the target, the veteran Australian pacer Glenn McGrath ran through the entire batting order of Namibia and bundled them out on the score of just 45 runs. McGrath scalped a total of 7 wickets at the cost of just 15 runs.

Canada – 45/all-out in 40.3 overs vs England, ODI World Cup 1979

It was just the second edition of this prestigious cricket quadrennial 44 years back in the year 1979. The hosts England were facing the minnows Canada in the 8^th match of the tournament at Old Trafford in Manchester. Canada won the flip of the coin and decided to bat first. The English bowling attack comprising of two stars, Bob Willis and Chris Old claimed a total of 8 Canadian wickets to bundle out the team at the score of 45 runs.

Later in the second innings, Mike Brearley’s boys comfortably chased down the total in 13.5 overs for the loss of 2 wickets to win the match by 8 wickets.

Canada – 36/all-out in 18.4 overs vs Sri Lanka, ODI World Cup 2003

It was the era when the Sri Lankan side was one of the mighty contenders in the ODI World Cup, unlike their current situation in international cricket. They took on the lower-ranked team Canada in the 18^th match of the ODI World Cup 2003. The Islanders’ skipper Sanath Jayasuriya won the toss and asked Canada to face Sri Lanka’s pace attack.

Sri Lanka bundled out Canada on a very low total of 36 runs in just 18.4 overs. It is still the lowest total in the history of the ODI World Cup. Notably, it is also an interesting fact that Sri Lanka is the only team in this list to be a part of both sides, including the lowest total with the bat and bundling out another team on the lowest total.