While T20 cricket favours batters more, ODI is a format where bowlers also hold the upper hand. There have been instances where batters have taken the game away from their opponents with big hundreds and mammoth partnerships. However, the reverse has also happened where the bowlers tear apart the batting line-up and dismiss them for paltry scores.
The ODI World Cup is a platform to witness such enthralling moments and their intensity will be relatively high. Being bowled out for a mere total is one of the most embarrassing records a team can hold in a World Cup. Mostly, the Associate Members of the Cricket Governing Body are at the receiving end. However, on rare occasions, strong teams and member nations like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan were part of this record.
On that note, let’s take a look at the 1996 champions Sri Lanka’s 3 lowest scores in ODI World Cup history.
3. 109 vs Ind in 2003
India thrashed Sri Lanka by 183 runs at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on March 10 to hand them the 26th-lowest score in World Cup history. Batting first, India posted a mammoth score of 292 runs thanks to a brilliant performance by their top three batters. In reply, the Lankan batters struggled against the Indian pacers and were bowled out for 109 runs in just 23 overs. Javagal Srinath and Ashish Nehra grabbed two wickets each, while Zaheer Khan took two.
2. 86 vs WI in 1975
Sri Lanka had entered this unwanted list in the inaugural World Cup edition itself. They were annihilated by champions West Indies in the 4th match in Manchester. After being asked to bat first, Anura Tennekoon’s side could just score 86 runs as they were bowled out within 37.2 overs. Spinner Somachandra De Silva, who scored 21 off 54 balls, was the top scorer for Sri Lanka. Bernard Julien and Keith Boyce together claimed seven wickets to dismantle the Lankan lineup. Windies chased down the target in 20.4 overs for the loss of just one wicket.
1. 55 vs India in 2023
The former champions polished their record in the ongoing World Cup with a humiliating performance against hosts India. Sri Lanka posted the lowest score by a full-member nation in the history of the ODI World Cup as they were bowled out for 55 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. It is the fourth lowest total overall, behind Canada (36 & 45) and Namibia (45). While defending a huge target of 358, the Indian pacers rattled the Lankan batting unit. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj wreaked havoc as Sri Lanka were bowled out within 19.4 overs.
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