Top-5 lowest ever total defended in the History of Cricket World Cup

The game of Cricket has evolved with time and which once was known as a bowlers dominated game is now ruled over by batsmen especially the White ball format and with the advent and popularization of T20 cricket big scores have become a regular affair in the limited overs format. But a World Cup brings a different pressure to it and we have seen teams falter even while chasing smaller targets.

No team has ever successfully defended a two-digit score in ODI World Cup history, but there have been 11 instances of teams defending between 100 and 200 runs.

Let’s have a look at the top 5 lowest total defended by teams in World Cup history:

1)         Zimbabwe beat England by 9 runs

Zimbabwe's defense of 134 against England in the 1992 World Cup is one of the most remarkable upsets in cricket history. England was a strong team, led by Graham Gooch and David Gower, and were expected to win easily. However, Zimbabwe's bowlers bowled with great discipline and accuracy, and England were bowled out for just 125.

2)         England defeated Pakistan by 14 runs

England's defense of 165 against Pakistan in the 1979 World Cup is the second-lowest total defended by any team in World Cup’s. Pakistan were a strong team, led by Imran Khan and Majid Khan, and were expected to win easily. However, England's bowlers bowled with great discipline and accuracy, and Pakistan were bowled out for just 151.

3)         West Indies lost by 73 runs to spirited Kenya

Kenya famously defended a modest 166 to defeat the two-time World Cup champions West Indies by 73 runs in Pune on Leap Year Day 1996 which is the third-lowest total ever defended in World Cup history. Unheralded Rajab Ali and captain Maurice Odumbe were the wreckers-in-chief, taking three wickets apiece, including that of Brian Lara.

4)         England won against South Africa by 6 runs

England defended a low total of 171 runs on a dry and slow Chennai track which was the 4th ever-lowest total defended in World Cup history. South Africa was a strong team, led by Graeme Smith and AB de Villiers, and were expected to win easily. However, England's bowlers bowled with great discipline and accuracy, and South Africa were bowled out for just 165.

5)         Bangladesh lost to Canada by 60 runs

Canada's defense of 180 against Bangladesh in the 2003 World Cup is one of the most remarkable low-scoring defenses in cricket history. Bangladesh were a relatively new team at the time, but they were improving quickly and had a number of dangerous batsmen, including Khaled Mashud, Habibul Bashar, and Alok Kapali. However, Canada's bowlers bowled with great discipline and accuracy, and Bangladesh were bowled out for just 120.