5 Lowest Totals Defended In T20I Cricket

To sum up the definition of T20 cricket in short- it is a bowler’s graveyard and a treat for a batsman as the narrative has been created since the shortest format was introduced in the early 21st century.

We have seen teams chasing a formidable total in the game with many games going down to the wire in international cricket.

Recently Bangladesh scripted history in their cricket journey after they outsmarted Australia by crushing their strength and power with a 4-1 T20I series triumph. All five matches were played in Dhaka at Shere Bangla National Stadium, a well-known turning track that assists spin bowlers a lot.

The highest total scored in the entire five games was 131 by Bangladesh in the first T20I and three of their four wins came in a defending cause. In the final match, the hosts bowled out the Australians for 66 to defend their first innings total of 122/8.

Interestingly, there have been fewer first inning totals than 120 successfully tackled in the past and we at CricketAddictior bring you the 5 lowest scores defended in T20I cricket.

5 Lowest Totals Defended In T20I Cricket

5) Sri Lanka (119) vs New Zealand (March 31st, 2014)

Sri Lanka and New Zealand were clubbed in Group 1 of the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup group stage. Both the teams were playing the final fixture of their group stage and it was a do-or-die situation for each of them to progress in the semi-finals.

New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum won the toss and asked Sri Lanka to bat first. The Black Caps folded up Sri Lanka’s inning at 119 in 19.2 overs, which made them the favorites to win the game.

But to everyone’s surprise, Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath bowled the spell of his life as he picked five wickets while conceding just three runs from the 3.3 overs he bowled. New Zealand were skittled out for 60 and hence Sri Lanka made it through the semis and eventually lifted the trophy. This has been the fifth-lowest total defended in T20I cricket history.

4) Zimbabwe (118/9) vs Pakistan (April 23, 2021)

Zimbabwe handed Pakistan one of their biggest upset as they bowled them out for 99 to comfortably defend their first inning score of 118/9.

Pakistan had a sloppy approach to their chase, by the end of 10 overs they could manage only 44 runs and despite skipper Babar Azam and senior all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez present at the crease, Zimbabwe bowlers gave their best to keep them at bay.

Luke Jongwe (4/18) and Ryan Burl (2/21) were well complemented by their colleagues to script one of their biggest wins in T20Is. If you think this was the first time that Zimbabwe stunned a heavyweight in T20I then wait for the best.

3) South Africa (115/6) vs Sri Lanka (August 2, 2013)

Sri Lanka’s Sachithra Senanayake bowled brilliantly, taking the top-order wickets of Henry Davids, Quinton de Kock, and skipper Faf du Plessis to restrict the visitors to 115/6 at the end of the first innings.

In South Africa’s response, Jean-Paul Duminy bowled a similar spell to the one Senanayake bowled for Sri Lanka. Duminy got rid of Tillakaratne Dilshan in his very first over and in the second got the wickets of Angelo Mathews and Jeevan Mendis on back-to-back balls. Morne Morkel and Wayne Parnell picked two wickets each.

Kumar Sangakkara remained unbeaten on 59 but that wasn’t enough to cross the finishing line as Sri Lanka ended with 103/9. This has been the third-lowest total defended in T20I cricket history.

2) West Indies (113/5) vs England (September 25, 2011)

West Indies were missing the likes of Chris Gayle and Kieron Pollard in their squad and for the second time, they registered a below-par score in the two-match series against England. After they were bowled out for 125 in the first game, they could only manage 113 in the next.

Garey Mathurin, a left-arm spinner from St Lucia who was not well known, produced a remarkable spell of 3 for 9 in four overs as West Indies secured a shock 25-run victory at The Oval to share the series at 1-1. England were bundled out for 88 as Ben Stokes top-scored with 31 runs.

1) Zimbabwe (105) vs West Indies (February 28, 2010)

Surprised to see Zimbabwe’s name once again on the list, I had told you before to wait for the best. Yes, Zimbabwe holds the record of defending the lowest total in T20I cricket and that is also against a team that portrays the art of the format so well that they are feared amongst the top nations in the world.

West Indies spinner Sulieman Benn bowled a magnificent spell of 4-2-6-4, while Hamilton Masakadza (44) and Elton Chigumbura (34) pushed their team’s total to 105. Zimbabwe’s spin pair of Graeme Cremer (3/11) and Greg Lamb (2/14) combined together as West Indies batters faltered against the duo.

Cremer cleaned the stumps of Kieron Pollard and Daren Sammy, while Lamb got the wicket of the destructive Dwayne Smith in the 16th over. West Indies ended their innings at 79/7 as Zimbabwe won by 26 runs. This has been the lowest total defended in T20I cricket history.