Top 3 Lowest Totals Defended in T20Is

Jatin

NZ defended their lowest ever T20I score vs SL [Source: @ICC/x.com]NZ defended their lowest ever T20I score vs SL [Source: @ICC/x.com]

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In T20 cricket, where big scores and quick chases dominate, defending a low total requires absolute courage, determination, and nerves of steel. When you see a team barely making it past 100, you usually think the chase will be over in no time.

However, there have been remarkable instances when teams turned small targets into insurmountable mountains for the opposition. Here are the top three instances when teams defended some of the lowest scores in T20I history and left everyone stunned.

3. New Zealand vs Sri Lanka – 108 Defended at Dambulla, 2024

NZ defended 108 vs Sri Lanka [Source: @ICC/x.com]NZ defended 108 vs Sri Lanka [Source: @ICC/x.com]

On Sunday, New Zealand barely managed to put up 108 on the board. The game started with a bang for Sri Lanka – Nuwan Thushara got Tim Robinson out on the first ball. From there, it only got worse for the Kiwis.

Wanindu Hasaranga was all over them, and soon they were 52-6. It looked like they’d barely make it past 100. Thanks to Mitchell Santner (19) and Josh Clarkson (24), they added a few more, but Matheesha Pathirana cleaned up the tail, finishing with 3-11. New Zealand wrapped up at 108, which looked like an easy target.

But the Kiwis weren’t done yet. Lockie Ferguson turned up the heat with a stunning hat-trick, taking out three Sri Lankan batters and throwing them off track. With Sri Lanka needing just eight runs in the last over, Glenn Phillips came in and bowled the over of his life. He snatched three wickets, sealing a five-run win for New Zealand. It was a jaw-dropping defense, their lowest-ever score successfully defended in T20Is.

2. Bangladesh vs Nepal – 106 Defended at Kingstown, 2024

BAN defended 106 vs NEP [Source: @ImThimira07/x.com]BAN defended 106 vs NEP [Source: @ImThimira07/x.com]

In June 2024 during the T20 World Cup, Bangladesh took on Nepal and scored just 106. They had a rough time with the bat; no one could really settle in. Tanzid Hasan fell for a duck, and the wickets kept tumbling.

Nepal’s bowlers were on point and made life difficult for Bangladesh batters. Sompal Kami , Sandeep Lamichhane, Dipendra Singh Airee and Rohit Paudel picked two wickets apiece. Bangladesh barely made it to 106, and it seemed like Nepal would chase it down without much fuss.

But Bangladesh’s bowlers had other plans. Tanzim Hasan Sakib, who took 4-7, was on fire from the start, tearing through Nepal’s top order. Nepal was in trouble, losing five wickets with only 26 runs on the board. 

Kushal Malla and Dipendra Singh Airee tried to fight back, but Mustafizur Rahman and Taskin Ahmed were relentless. They kept things tight, and Shakib Al Hasan finished it off, bowling Nepal out for 85. Bangladesh pulled off a 21-run win, making that 106 look like a mountain.

1. West Indies vs Ireland – 96 Defended at Kingston, 2014

This is the granddaddy of all low-score defenses. Back in 2014, West Indies defended just 96 runs against Ireland. It didn’t look good for them at all. They struggled with the bat as Alex Cusack bowled a gem of a spell, taking 4-11 and wrecking the West Indies lineup. They finished at 96-9, and it looked like Ireland would knock it off easily.

But the home side had other plans. Samuel Badree, Sunil Narine, Krishmar Santokie and Daren Sammy made every run count. Sammy was especially impressive with his 3-22, leading his team from the front

Gary Wilson scored 35 for Ireland and tried to steer them home, but the West Indies bowlers held their nerve. Ireland couldn’t get there, ending at 85-8, and West Indies won by 11 runs.