The ODI format is a mixture of Red ball and T20 games. It needs courage and determination from the team like a Test, and it provides joy like the T20 format. But sometimes unpredictability happens and teams get out on the lowest score in ODIs instead of a huge total.

It is a very embarrassing moment for any team that they set the lowest total in ODI format. After so many favourable conditions provided for batsmen around the world. Here some of the unluckiest nations like Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the USA in the list of lowest ODI scores.

Lowest Team Score in ODI

Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka 2004

In 2004 at Harare Marvan Atapattu was given a chance to host a team to put a good total. But the Sri Lankan pace trio has some other plans. They completely thrashed Zimbabwe’s batting lineup at the score of 35 which is still the lowest ODI total.

Left-arm fast bowler Chaminda Vaas took 4 wickets while Farveez Mahroof or Dilhara Fernando got 3 wickets. And Sri Lanka easily chased down this score in 9.2 overs with 9 wickets in hand.

USA vs Nepal 2020

After a decade and 6 years, the USA joins Zimbabwe in this unwanted record of the lowest score in the history of ODI. At Kirtipur in 2020, home nation spinners caught all the wickets of the visiting team. The USA is only able to manage 35 runs and Nepal completed this total in 32 deliveries.

Canada vs Sri Lanka 2003

In a group-stage match between Canada and Sri Lanka in the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup. Sanath Jayasuriya decided to field and the bowlers outclass opponents batting. Prabath Nissanka picks 4 wickets and stops the scorecard at 36 only.

The highest runs from Canada is 9 by Joe Harris. Sri Lanka win this match comfortably with 9 wickets in 4.4 overs. The 36 by the Canadian team is still the lowest score in ODI World Cup history.

Lowest ODI Totals Team-Wise

India

In the Coca-Cola Cup final in 2000, Sri Lanka posted 299 runs against India. But, India’s strong batting line-up fail to reach the target. Chaminda Vaas and Muralitharan restrict Tendulkar, Sourav or Yuvraj Singh to score big runs. India all out on 54 runs it is the lowest score by India in ODI.

Australia

The lowest score in ODI by Australia is 70, and they do it double times. In 1977 at the tour of England Kangaroo in a run chase of 171 collapsed at the score of 70. After a break of 9 years, Aussie did the same score against Kiwis at Adelaide Oval with a target of 227.

South Africa

In the 1992–1993 series among South Africa or Aussies. Australia set a low target of 173 runs for Proteas. But the whole African batting crumbled after scoring only 69 runs. Only 2 batsmen from their team touched the double-digit score. This is the lowest ODI total by South Africa.

Pakistan

During a Tri-series among Pakistan, South Africa, and the West Indies, Pakistan scored their lowest total against the West Indies in 1993. On a bouncy pitch of Cape Town West Indian pace attack led by Courtney Walsh took charge of Pakistan’s batting. And bound at the score of 43.

Sri Lanka

In 2012 during a Sri Lanka tour of South Africa, Sri Lanka listed their lowest team total 43. Proteas after choosing bat first fully utilize their home conditions and score 301 runs. Hashim Amla smashed a hundred in that inning.

In a run chase with a required run rate of 6, Sri Lanka continuously gifted wickets to bowlers. Even with the inclusion of big names like Sangakkara, Jayawardene, Dilshan, or Chandimal, they did not cross 50 runs.

England

The lowest score in ODI by England is 86 against Australia in Manchester. In the first innings of the match Australia bat on and reached a total of 208 runs. While defending this low score McGrath and Shane Warne bowled out an English batsman on 86 runs.