Top 10 Lowest Team Totals in Cricket World Cup History

Thirty-six runs, Five ducks, Not a single batter into double figures; Canada’s collapse against Sri Lanka in 2003 remains the floor of World Cup batting a record that’s stood for over two decades against a field that now includes full nations, not just associate sides.

Lowest Team Totals in Cricket World Cup

1) Canada — 36 vs Sri Lanka

Boland Park, Paarl — February 19, 2003

The lowest total in World Cup history. Prabath Nissanka and Chaminda Vaas ran through Canada’s top order, and five batters were dismissed without scoring a single run. Not one Canadian batter reached double figures. Sri Lanka chased the target down in 4.4 overs to win by nine wickets.

2) Canada — 45 vs England

Old Trafford, Manchester — June 13, 1979

Canada’s second entry on this list, and their first World Cup appearance. Bob Willis and Chris Old took four wickets apiece to bowl Canada out in 40.3 overs. Franklyn Dennis’s 21 was the only score in double figures. England completed the chase inside 14 overs.

3) Namibia — 45 vs Australia

Sedgars Park, Potchefstroom — February 27, 2003

Australia posted 301/6 on the back of fifties from Matthew Hayden, Darren Lehmann, and Andrew Symonds — then Glenn McGrath took the ball apart. He finished with 7/15, at the time the best bowling figures in World Cup history, as Namibia collapsed for 45. Australia’s 256-run win stood as the largest margin in ODI history at that point.

4) Sri Lanka — 55 vs India

Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai — November 2, 2023

India’s pace attack produced one of the most complete bowling performances in World Cup history. Mohammed Shami took 5/18, Mohammed Siraj added 3/16, and Sri Lanka slumped to 14/6 inside ten overs. Chasing a target of 358, they were bowled out in 19.4 overs, handing India a 302-run win — their biggest margin of victory in World Cup history.

5) Bangladesh — 58 vs West Indies

Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur — March 4, 2011

The lowest total ever by a co-host nation in the tournament’s history. Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, and Sulieman Benn shared nine wickets between them as Bangladesh collapsed in front of a stunned home crowd, bowled out in 18.5 overs.

6) Scotland — 68 vs West Indies

Grace Road, Leicester — May 27, 1999

Courtney Walsh took three wickets in seven overs, with Curtly Ambrose, Kenny Benjamin, and Reon King sharing the rest as Scotland were bowled out in 31.3 overs. West Indies chased the total down inside 11 overs for an eight-wicket win.

7) Kenya — 69 vs New Zealand

MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai — March 2011

Kenya were 40/1 after 11 overs before Hamish Bennett took four wickets in three overs to trigger a collapse. Tim Southee and Jacob Oram picked up three apiece as Kenya lost their last nine wickets for just 29 runs. New Zealand’s openers finished the chase for a ten-wicket win.

8) Pakistan — 74 vs England

Adelaide Oval — March 1, 1992

The only instance in World Cup history of a team being bowled out for under 100 and still not losing. Derek Pringle’s 3/8 led England’s attack as Pakistan collapsed to 74 all out, but rain wiped out the second innings before a result could be forced.

9) Ireland — 77 vs Sri Lanka

National Cricket Stadium, St. George’s — April 18, 2007

Farveez Maharoof took 4/28 and was named Player of the Match, with Muttiah Muralitharan adding four wickets of his own, as Ireland were bowled out in 27.4 overs. Sri Lanka went on to win by eight runs in a tighter finish than the scoreline suggests.

10) Bangladesh — 78 vs South Africa

Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur — 2011

Bangladesh’s second sub-100 total of their home tournament. Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, and Faf du Plessis all passed fifty to set South Africa’s total of 284/8, before Lonwabo Tsotsobe (3/14) and Robin Peterson (4/12) dismantled the Bangladesh innings for a 206-run defeat.

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