Zimbabwe bundle out to 7th lowest total in ODI history; concede series to Afghanistan

Zimbabwe seem to have a monopoly of this, for they have four entries in 10 lowest totals in ODI cricket. Here is the list of 10 lowest totals in the history of ODIs.

Zimbabwe succumbed to the joint seventh-lowest total in ODI history to fold up for a paltry 54 & lose the match as well as series against Afghanistan. Photo Courtesy: Zimbabwe Cricket

After putting up brave performances in the previous two ODIs of the five-match series against Afghanistan and coming from behind to level the contest, Zimbabwe were considered as favourites walking into the series decider on Sunday at Harare. But they succumbed to the joint seventh-lowest total in ODI history to fold up for a paltry 54 and lose the match by a big margin of 106 runs by Duckworth-Lewis (D-L) Method. Batting first, Afghanistan had managed to score 253 for 9 in their 50 overs. However, due to rain interruption in the second half, the match was reduced to 22 overs. Zimbabwe’s reduced target was 161.

But Zimbabwe could manage a meagre 54, thus losing the match embarrassingly as well as series in front of home crowds. This is the joint seventh-lowest total in the history of ODIs. It is also Zimbabwe’s fourth-lowest total in ODIs. Their lowest total in ODIs is 35 against Sri Lanka at the same venue in 2004, which is also the lowest ever total by a team in ODIs. Their second-lowest total (38) in ODIs is against the same side, Sri Lanka in 2001. Zimbabwe’s third-lowest total in ODIs (44) came in 2009 against Bangladesh at Chittagong. Zimbabwe seem to have a monopoly of this, for they have four entries in 10 lowest totals in ODI cricket. Here is the list of 10 lowest totals in the history of ODIs:

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Sr. No	Team	Score	Overs	Opposition	Venue	Date
1	Zimbabwe	35	18	Sri Lanka	Harare	25 Apr 2004
2	Canada	36	18.4	Sri Lanka	Paarl	19 Feb 2003
3	Zimbabwe	38	15.4	Sri Lanka	SSC	8 Dec 2001
4	Sri Lanka	43	20.1	South Africa	Paarl	11 Jan 2012
4	Pakistan	43	19.5	West Indies	Newlands	25 Feb 1993
5	Zimbabwe	44	24.5	Bangladesh	Chittagong	3 Nov 2009
6	Canada	45	40.3	England	Old Trafford	13 Jun 1979
6	Namibia	45	14	Australia	Potchefstroom	27 Feb 2003
7	India	54	26.3	Sri Lanka	Sharjah	29 Oct 2000
7	West Indies	54	23.2	South Africa	Newlands	25 Jan 2004
7	Zimbabwe	54	13.5	Afghanistan	Harare	26 Feb 2017
8	Sri Lanka	55	28.3	West Indies	Sharjah	3 Dec 1986
9	Bangladesh	58	18.5	West Indies	Mirpur	4 Mar 2011
9	Bangladesh	58	17.4	India	Mirpur	17 Jun 2014
9	Afghanistan	58	16.1	Zimbabwe	Sharjah	2 Jan 2016
10	West Indies	61	22	Bangladesh	Chittagong	18 Oct 2011

Leading Test-playing nations Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand do not find mention in the list of top-10 lowest totals in ODIs. However, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, however, all have entries, as do West Indies. While Sri Lanka and Pakistan have identical lowest ODI totals (43), India and West Indies do the same (54).