Lowest Score in Cricket History
In this article, we are going to take a look at the 10 lowest scores in international cricket. In compiling this list, we have limited ourselves to matches involving at least one full member of the ICC.
Contents
1. New Zealand – 26 (Test)
New Zealand set the dubious record for the lowest score in a Test innings in March 1955 in Auckland in the 2nd match of a series on England’s tour of New Zealand. Batting first, New Zealand were bowled out for 200 but managed to restrict England to a score of 246. In their second knock, the hosts collapsed to be all out for 26 in 27 overs, handing England the win by an innings and 20 runs. For England, R Appleyard was the most successful bowler, taking 4 wickets for 7 runs in 6 overs. He was supported by JB Stalham who took 3/9 and FH Tyson who took 2/10. The 10th wicket was accounted for by Wardle who bowled five maiden overs. B Sutcliffe (11) was the only New Zealand batsman to reach double figures.
2. Sou2. South Africa – 30 (Test)
1st Test of a series in Port Elizabeth on England’s tour of South Africa in February 1896, England batted first and scored 185. In reply, the hosts managed to score only 93. In the 2nd innings, England were bowled out for 226. Chasing 319 to win, South Africa collapsed to their lowest Test score of 30. New ball operator GA Lohmann took 8 wickets for 7 runs in 9.4 overs, while HR Bromley-Davenport and TW Hayward shared the other two wickets. RM Poore (10) became South Africa’s top scorer with 4 of the team’s batsmen failing to get off the mark.
3. South A3. South Africa – 30 (Test)
trong>hosted South Africa in the 1st Test of a series in Birmingham in June 1924. Batting first, England scored 438. In reply, South Africa collapsed to be all out for 30, equalling the lowest score they had earlier registered in 1896. Between them, England bowlers AER Gilligan (6 wickets for 7 runs) and MW Tate (4 wickets for 12) shared the spoils. Extras (11) was the top scorer in South African innings that featured four noughts. Following on, the tourists batted much better in the second innings but were eventually all out for 390, paving the way for England to win the match by an innings and 18 runs.
4. South A4. South Africa – 35 (Test)
rong>2nd Test of a series in Cape Town in April 1899, England batted first and scored 92. South Africa replied with 177 to take a handy first-innings lead of 85 runs. In their second knock, England managed to score 330, setting South Africa a target of 246 to win. In reply, the hosts collapsed to be all out for 35. The South African batsmen found England bowlers S Haigh (6 for 11) and AE Trott (4 for 19) unplayable, with only opener AW Powell (11) reaching double figures.
5. Zimbabw5. Zimbabwe – 35 (ODI)
in the 3rd ODI of a series against Sri Lanka, batting first, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 35 in 18 overs. The wrecker-in-chief was Sri Lanka’s left-arm fast bowler, Chaminda Vaas, who took 4/11 in 9 overs, responsible for the dismissals of BRM Taylor, E Chigumbura, A Maregwede and P Utseya. Vaas was ably supported by CRD Fernando who took 2/18 in 6 overs and MF Maharoof who returned figures of 3/3 in 3 overs. The Zimbabwe scorecard read like a telephone number (447002430407), in which Extras (7) was the top scorer.
3. South Africa – 30 (Test)
trong>hosted South Africa in the 1st Test of a series in Birmingham in June 1924. Batting first, England scored 438. In reply, South Africa collapsed to be all out for 30, equalling the lowest score they had earlier registered in 1896. Between them, England bowlers AER Gilligan (6 wickets for 7 runs) and MW Tate (4 wickets for 12) shared the spoils. Extras (11) was the top scorer in South African innings that featured four noughts. Following on, the tourists batted much better in the second innings but were eventually all out for 390, paving the way for England to win the match by an innings and 18 runs.4. South A4. South Africa – 35 (Test)
rong>2nd Test of a series in Cape Town in April 1899, England batted first and scored 92. South Africa replied with 177 to take a handy first-innings lead of 85 runs. In their second knock, England managed to score 330, setting South Africa a target of 246 to win. In reply, the hosts collapsed to be all out for 35. The South African batsmen found England bowlers S Haigh (6 for 11) and AE Trott (4 for 19) unplayable, with only opener AW Powell (11) reaching double figures.
5. Zimbabw5. Zimbabwe – 35 (ODI)
in the 3rd ODI of a series against Sri Lanka, batting first, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 35 in 18 overs. The wrecker-in-chief was Sri Lanka’s left-arm fast bowler, Chaminda Vaas, who took 4/11 in 9 overs, responsible for the dismissals of BRM Taylor, E Chigumbura, A Maregwede and P Utseya. Vaas was ably supported by CRD Fernando who took 2/18 in 6 overs and MF Maharoof who returned figures of 3/3 in 3 overs. The Zimbabwe scorecard read like a telephone number (447002430407), in which Extras (7) was the top scorer.
5. Zimbabwe – 35 (ODI)
in the 3rd ODI of a series against Sri Lanka, batting first, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 35 in 18 overs. The wrecker-in-chief was Sri Lanka’s left-arm fast bowler, Chaminda Vaas, who took 4/11 in 9 overs, responsible for the dismissals of BRM Taylor, E Chigumbura, A Maregwede and P Utseya. Vaas was ably supported by CRD Fernando who took 2/18 in 6 overs and MF Maharoof who returned figures of 3/3 in 3 overs. The Zimbabwe scorecard read like a telephone number (447002430407), in which Extras (7) was the top scorer.
6. USA ̵6. USA – 35 (ODI)
g>hosted the USA in Kirtipur for the 30th match of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 qualifier on 12 February 2020. Batting first, the USA were bowled out for 35. The Man of the Match S Lamichhane took 6/16 and was supported by S Bhari who took 4/5. Opener Xavier Marshall (16) was the stand-out player for the USA, with none of the other batsmen reaching double figures. In reply, Nepal chased down the target in 5.2 overs with 8 wickets in hand.
7. South Afr7. South Africa – 36 (Test)
ng>5th Test of a series in Melbourne in February 1952, South Africa batted first against Australia and were bowled out for 36. H Ironmonger was Australia’s most successful bowler, taking 5 wickets for 6 runs. LJ Nash (4/18) and SJ McCabe (1/4) took the other wickets. For South Africa, HB Cameron (11) was the only batsman to reach double figures. South Africa managed to restrict Australia to 153 in their reply. However, the visitors suffered another collapse in the second innings to be bowled out for 45, allowing Australia to win the match by an innings and 72 runs.
8. Australia –8. Australia – 36 (Test)
>first Ashes Test played in Birmingham in May 1902, England batted first and declared their innings at 376/9. Replying, Australia were bowled out for 36. For England, W Rhodes took 7/17, while GH Hirst accounted for the remaining Australian dismissals with figures of 3/15. Trumper (18) remained the sole Australian batsman to reach double figures. However, Australia managed to salvage a draw in a rain-hit match. Following on, they were 46/2 when play was called off.
9. Canada – 36 (OD9. Canada – 36 (ODI)
h match of the ICC World Cup in Paarl on 19 February 2003, Canada faced off against Sri Lanka. Batting first, Canada were bowled out for their lowest ODI score of 36. Sri Lankan bowler Prabath Nissanka took 4/12, while Vaas who grabbed 3/15, Muralitharan who took 1/3 and Fernando who returned figures of 2/4 shared the other wickets. Not a single Canadian batsman managed to reach double figures with DR Chumney and JV Harris, who scored 9 each, emerging the top scorers. In reply, Sri Lanka chased down the target in 4.4 overs with 9 wickets to spare.
10. Zimbabwe – 38 (ODI10. Zimbabwe – 38 (ODI)
>1st match of the LG Abans Triangular Series in Colombo on 8 December 2001, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 38 in 15.4 overs. Sri Lanka’s ace fast bowler Chaminda Vaas took 8/19 in 8 overs, with Muralitharan accounting for the remaining two wickets while giving away just 1 run. Barring Carlisle (16), no Zimbabwe batsman got to double figures. In reply, Sri Lanka chased down the required runs in 4.2 overs with 9 with wickets to spare.
7. South Africa – 36 (Test)
ng>5th Test of a series in Melbourne in February 1952, South Africa batted first against Australia and were bowled out for 36. H Ironmonger was Australia’s most successful bowler, taking 5 wickets for 6 runs. LJ Nash (4/18) and SJ McCabe (1/4) took the other wickets. For South Africa, HB Cameron (11) was the only batsman to reach double figures. South Africa managed to restrict Australia to 153 in their reply. However, the visitors suffered another collapse in the second innings to be bowled out for 45, allowing Australia to win the match by an innings and 72 runs.8. Australia –8. Australia – 36 (Test)
>first Ashes Test played in Birmingham in May 1902, England batted first and declared their innings at 376/9. Replying, Australia were bowled out for 36. For England, W Rhodes took 7/17, while GH Hirst accounted for the remaining Australian dismissals with figures of 3/15. Trumper (18) remained the sole Australian batsman to reach double figures. However, Australia managed to salvage a draw in a rain-hit match. Following on, they were 46/2 when play was called off.
9. Canada – 36 (OD9. Canada – 36 (ODI)
h match of the ICC World Cup in Paarl on 19 February 2003, Canada faced off against Sri Lanka. Batting first, Canada were bowled out for their lowest ODI score of 36. Sri Lankan bowler Prabath Nissanka took 4/12, while Vaas who grabbed 3/15, Muralitharan who took 1/3 and Fernando who returned figures of 2/4 shared the other wickets. Not a single Canadian batsman managed to reach double figures with DR Chumney and JV Harris, who scored 9 each, emerging the top scorers. In reply, Sri Lanka chased down the target in 4.4 overs with 9 wickets to spare.
10. Zimbabwe – 38 (ODI10. Zimbabwe – 38 (ODI)
>1st match of the LG Abans Triangular Series in Colombo on 8 December 2001, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 38 in 15.4 overs. Sri Lanka’s ace fast bowler Chaminda Vaas took 8/19 in 8 overs, with Muralitharan accounting for the remaining two wickets while giving away just 1 run. Barring Carlisle (16), no Zimbabwe batsman got to double figures. In reply, Sri Lanka chased down the required runs in 4.2 overs with 9 with wickets to spare.
9. Canada – 36 (ODI)
h match of the ICC World Cup in Paarl on 19 February 2003, Canada faced off against Sri Lanka. Batting first, Canada were bowled out for their lowest ODI score of 36. Sri Lankan bowler Prabath Nissanka took 4/12, while Vaas who grabbed 3/15, Muralitharan who took 1/3 and Fernando who returned figures of 2/4 shared the other wickets. Not a single Canadian batsman managed to reach double figures with DR Chumney and JV Harris, who scored 9 each, emerging the top scorers. In reply, Sri Lanka chased down the target in 4.4 overs with 9 wickets to spare.10. Zimbabwe – 38 (ODI10. Zimbabwe – 38 (ODI)
>1st match of the LG Abans Triangular Series in Colombo on 8 December 2001, Zimbabwe were bowled out for 38 in 15.4 overs. Sri Lanka’s ace fast bowler Chaminda Vaas took 8/19 in 8 overs, with Muralitharan accounting for the remaining two wickets while giving away just 1 run. Barring Carlisle (16), no Zimbabwe batsman got to double figures. In reply, Sri Lanka chased down the required runs in 4.2 overs with 9 with wickets to spare.
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