T20 cricket, for it’s fast paced nature, frequently produces low scoring matches along with the high-scoring ones.
As another T20 World Cup kick-starts tomorrow, let’s take a look at some of the lowest and highest team scores of the tournament till date, starting with the lowest ones.
Sri Lanka vs Netherlands (2014 T20 World Cup)
Topping the list on the lowest team scores takes us back to the 19th game of T20 World Cup 2014 in Chattogram. A star-studded Sri Lankan side in the likes of Lasith Malinga, Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara who went on to become the champions chose to bowl first.
Bowling first was a walk in the park for the Lankan bowlers as Netherlands were bundled out for 39 runs in the span of 10.3 overs. Angelo Mathews and Ajantha Mendis finished with figures of 4-0-16-3 and 2.3-0-12-3 respectively.
Sri Lanka v New Zealand (2014 T20 World Cup)
New Zealand features 2nd on the list as they were bowled out for a mere total of just 60 on the 30th match of the 2014 World Cup, courtesy of the champions Sri Lanka yet again.
Sending Sri Lanka to bat first, the blackcaps were the happier side as they bowled Sri Lanka out for 119. However, Lankan spinner Rangana Herath had other ideas. He not only finished with one of the best bowling figures in the tournament’s history with 3.3-2-3-5, but also dismissed New Zealand for 60 runs in 15.3 overs.
West Indies v Ireland (2010 T20 World Cup)
Third on the list is a game involving West Indies and Ireland in the 2nd match of the 2010 T20 World Cup in Providence.
West Indies posted a moderate total of 138/9. Ireland, in reply, were dismissed for just 68 runs in 16.4 overs, thanks to Ravi Rampaul’s figures of 3-0-17-3 and Daren Sammy’s man of the match all-around performance of 30 from 17 balls with the bat and finishing with a figure of 3.4-0-8-3 with the ball.
Next, let’s take a look at the top 3 highest team totals of the ICC World T20.
Sri Lanka v Kenya (2007 T20 World Cup)
In the 8th match of the 2007 T20 World Cup, Sri Lankan batters took the attack to the Kenyan bowlers from the onset as they reached a mammoth total of 260.
Sanath Jayasuriya’s 88 from 44 balls backed up by Mahela Jayawardene’s 65 off 27 balls set up the Lankan total to 260/6 which is still the highest team total of the World Cup’s history since the feat was achieved in its inaugural edition.
England v South Africa (2016 T20 World Cup)
The 18th match of the 2016 T20 World Cup was a nail-biting thriller. Batting first South Africa reached a total of 229/4, thanks to fifties from Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, and JP Duminy. The score of 229 which became the 2nd highest team total in the tournament’s history did not take long to slip down to the third position as England did what seemed impossible.
After England opener Jason Roy’s quick-fire innings of 43 from 16 balls, Joe Root treated the fans with a special innings of 83 from 44 balls helping England to reach home in 19.4 overs scoring 230/8 that eventually overtook their opponent’s 1st innings total as the 2nd highest team total ever in the World Cup.
