Since the inception of T20 cricket, the scoring rate has improved in the other two formats as well. Now-a-days, even 400 runs are scored in ODIs. In the era of scoring quick runs, there are some odd occasions when teams get all out for an unexpected total. A World Cup game is always full of different pressures.
That is the time when associate teams make or break when they face stronger teams than them. Here we will talk about such stats when a team gets all out for low totals in the ODI World Cup. This article will cover the lowest totals in World Cup history.
Lowest Total in ODI World Cup
| Team | Score | Overs | Inns | Vs | Venue | Date |
| Canada | 36 | 18.4 | 1 | Sri Lanka | Paarl | 19 Feb 2003 |
| Canada | 45 | 40.3 | 1 | England | Manchester | 13 Jun 1979 |
| Namibia | 45 | 14.0 | 2 | Australia | Potchefstroom | 27 Feb 2003 |
| Sri Lanka | 55 | 19.4 | 2 | India | Wankhede | 2 Nov 2023 |
| Bangladesh | 58 | 18.5 | 1 | West Indies | Mirpur | 4 Mar 2011 |
| Scotland | 68 | 31.3 | 1 | West Indies | Leicester | 27 May 1999 |
| Kenya | 69 | 23.5 | 1 | New Zealand | Chennai | 20 Feb 2011 |
| Pakistan | 74 | 40.2 | 1 | England | Adelaide | 1 Mar 1992 |
| Ireland | 77 | 27.4 | 1 | Sri Lanka | St George’s | 18 Apr 2007 |
| Bangladesh | 78 | 28.0 | 2 | South Africa | Mirpur | 19 Mar 2011 |
| Bermuda | 78 | 24.4 | 2 | Sri Lanka | Port of Spain | 15 Mar 2007 |
3. Namibia (45 all out) vs Australia in 2003 World Cup
The third-lowest total in the World Cup event was registered in the 2003 ODI World Cup in the West Indies. It was the 31st game of the tournament between Australia and Namibia in Potchefstroom. Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. The Men in Yellow had a good start from Matthew Hayden. He scored 88 off 73 balls, with nine fours and three sixes.
Andrew Symonds (59 off 63) and Darren Lehmann (50* off 31) also scored half-centuries. Australia finished strong with a score of 301/6 in the first inning. But the second innings was a batting disaster courtesy of the World Cup’s best bowling figure. Glenn McGrath took 7/15 in his seven overs, and Namibia couldn’t bat for 15 overs as well and got all out for just 45 runs. Australia won that game by 256 runs, the second biggest World Cup win.
2. Canada (45 all out) vs England in 1979 World Cup
The joint-second-lowest total in the World Cup was registered in the 1979 ODI World Cup. This came in the 8th game of the tournament between Canada and England in Manchester. Canada was the associate nation. They won the toss and elected to bat first. But that decision went horribly wrong. Only Franklyn Dennis (21) could cross the 10-run mark, while the other batters only scored in single digits.
As a result, the whole team got all out for just 45 runs, and they batted for 40.3 overs, which is astonishing to know. Bob Willis picked up 4/11, while Chris Old bowled one of the most economical ODI spells ever. He bowled ten overs with five maidens and took four wickets for just eight runs. Chasing the target, England made 46/2 in 13.5 overs and won the game by 8 wickets and 277 balls to spare (a 60-over ODI game).
1. Canada (36 all out) vs Sri Lanka in 2003 ODI World Cup
The lowest World Cup total also belongs to Canada. They suffered it in the 2003 World Cup against Sri Lanka. It was the 18th game of the tournament in Paarl. The Sri Lankan team won the toss and put Canada to bat first. Canada couldn’t start their innings, and Sri Lankan bowlers were all over them. None of the Canadian batters reached double digits. There were six ducks out of eleven players.
The whole team was dismissed for just 36 runs in 18.4 overs, the lowest innings total of all time. Prabath Nissanka took 4/12, Chaminda Vaas took 3/15, and Dilhara Fernando took 2/4. Chasing the target, Sri Lanka made 37/1 in just 4.4 overs, winning it by nine wickets and 272 balls to spare. This is the third-biggest margin in terms of balls spared.