The men’s ODI World Cup has seen some of the format’s highest-scoring games, but there have also been days when batting lineups just did not turn up.

In men’s ODIs, there have been nine instances of teams not being able to reach 50 runs in their innings, the first one dating back to 1979, when Canada succumbed to 45 all out against England in that year’s World Cup.

The record for the lowest-ever score, however, goes to Zimbabwe, who managed just 35 in their ODI against Sri Lanka in Harare, in 2004. None of the batters managed to get into double-figures, with extras (7) being the joint-highest run-scorer.

Lowest totals in men’s ODI cricket

35 – Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka – 25 Apr 2004, Harare
35 – U.S.A. v Nepal – 2 Feb 2020, Kirtipur
36 – Canada v Sri Lanka – 19 Feb 2003 – Paarl
38 – Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka  – 8 Dec 2001 – Colombo (SSC)
43 – Sri Lanka v South Africa – 11 Jan 2012 – Paarl
43 – Pakistan v West Indies – 25 Feb 1993 – Cape Town
44 – Zimbabwe v Bangladesh – 3 Nov 2009 – Chattogram
45 – Canada v England – 13 Jun 1979 – Manchester
45 – Namibia v Australia – 27 Feb 2003 – Potchefstroom
50 – Sri Lanka v India – 17 Sep 2023 – Colombo (RPS)

In World Cups, Canada hold the unfortunate record for getting the lowest total in an innings, against Sri Lanka in the 2003 edition. Thrice have teams not been able to get to 50 in men’s ODI World Cups, the last one by Namibia, against Australia.

Against India, Sri Lanka succumbed to the fourth-lowest total in men’s ODI World Cup history, slipping to 55 all out at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Lowest totals in men’s ODI World Cups

36 – Canada v Sri Lanka – Paarl – 19 Feb 2003
45 – Canada v England – Manchester – 13 Jun 1979
45 – Namibia v Australia – Potchefstroom – 27 Feb 2003
55 – Sri Lanka v India – Mumbai – 2 Nov 2023
58 – Bangladesh v West Indies – Mirpur – 4 Mar 2011
68 – Scotland v West Indies – Leicester – 27 May 1999
69 – Kenya v New Zealand – Chennai – 20 Feb 2011
74 – Pakistan v England – Adelaide – 1 Mar 1992
77 – Ireland v Sri Lanka – St George’s – 18 Apr 2007
78 – Bangladesh v South Africa – Mirpur – 19 Mar 2011

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