Uganda against West Indies (L) and Oman against England (R) (Source: AFP)
T20I, the most modern cricket format, is usually known for the high-scoring games with the raining sixes and fours. Meanwhile, the sudden batting collapses feel surprising for the fans, and it is one of the rarest happenings in the T20 format.
Especially in the T20 World Cup, the marquee competition in the game’s shortest format, the lowest team totals are recorded very rarely. That said, here’s a look at the five lowest team totals in the T20 World Cup history.
5 Lowest team totals in T20 World Cup history
Uganda - 39 vs West Indies, T20 World Cup 2024
The lowest-ever team total in the entire history of the T20 World Cup was recorded in the tournament’s latest edition in 2024. It happened in the tournament’s 18th match in Guyana, where the West Indies wrapped up Uganda at the double-digit score of just 39 runs in 12 overs.
None of the Uganda batters could touch the double-digit mark as an individual score, except for Juma Miyagi’s unbeaten 13 runs off 20 balls. Akeal Hosein claimed a sensational five-wicket haul, picking five wickets for just 11 runs in his four-over spell.
The Caribbean side won this game comfortably by 134 runs, scoring 173 for the loss of 5 wickets in the first innings. Johnson Charles and veteran all-rounder played the brilliant knocks 44 and 30* runs, respectively.
Netherlands - 39 vs Sri Lanka, T20 World Cup 2014
Sri Lanka and the Netherlands faced off in the 19th match of the T20 World Cup 2014 in India. The Islanders’ skipper Dinesh Chandimal won the toss and asked the Netherlands to bat first.
The Dutch batters failed to survive against the Sri Lankan bowling attack, and they were bundled out at the score of just 39 runs in 10.3 overs. It was the lowest total ever in the T20 World Cup. The Netherlands were later joined by Uganda, with the joint-lowest team total in the tournament’s history.
Sri Lanka chased down the 40-run target comfortably in five overs, scoring 40 runs for the loss of just one wicket and won the game by nine wickets.
Uganda - 40 vs New Zealand, T20 World Cup 2024
Uganda faced New Zealand in the T20 World Cup 2024’s 32nd game at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. The Blackcaps skipper Kane Williamson won the toss and opted to bowl first. The Kiwi bowlers lived up to their captain’s expectations and bundled out Uganda at just 40 runs in 18.4 overs.
The former pace-bowling stalwart, Tim Southee, ended up with the best figures for his side, claiming three wickets for just four runs in his four overs, including a maiden over. Besides him, Trent Boult, Mitchell Santner, and Rachin Ravindra bagged two wickets each, alongside a wicket picked by Lockie Ferguson.
Later in the second innings, the Kiwis scored 41 runs for the loss of one wicket in just 5.2 overs and won the game by a heavy margin of nine wickets. Uganda’s 40-run total in this game was the third-lowest team total in the T20 World Cup history.
Netherlands - 44 vs Sri Lanka, T20 World Cup 2021
Notably, Sri Lanka have had a reputation as a team that easily thrashes the minnows or the lower-ranked teams. They are the only team to bundle out the opponent below the team total of 50 runs on two occasions. The Islanders have done this against the Netherlands on both the occasions.
After wrapping up the Dutch side at 39 runs in the T20 World Cup 2014. Seven years later, in the T20 World Cup 2021, the Sri Lankan team bundled them out once again below 50, at 44 runs in the tournament’s 12th match in Sharjah.
In this game, Sri Lanka invited the Dutchmen to bat first after winning the toss. Lahiru Kumara and Wanindu Hasaranga claimed three wickets each, alongside two wickets picked by Maheesh Theekshana. Dushmantha Chameera also bagged a wicket to dismiss the Netherlands at 44 runs in 10 overs.
Sri Lanka, in the second innings, scored 45 runs for the loss of two wickets in just 7.1 overs and won the game easily by eight wickets.
Oman - 47 vs England, T20 World Cup 2024
England and Oman took on in the 28th game of the T20 World Cup 2025 in North Sound, Antigua. The then-English skipper Jos Buttler won the toss and decided to bowl first. The England bowling attack, led by the star spinner, Adil Rashid, bundled out Oman at just 47 runs in 13.2 overs.
Adil Rashid was the leading wicket-taker for the Three Lions in this game, with four wickets for just 11 runs in his four overs. Besides him, the pace duo of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood picked a total of six wickets, including three wickets each.
Jos Buttler’s men won the game comfortably by eight wickets, scoring 50 runs for the loss of two wickets in just 3.1 overs, with an astonishing run rate of 15.78.
