Few one-day internationals include low scoring contests where the side bowling first successfully defends low totals, surprising the spectators. True cricket lovers will be impressed by the talents displayed by these bowlers as they get a chance to demonstrate why they are so good throughout these matches. It will be fascinating to see the top 5 Lowest Totals Defended in One Day Internationals because there have been a few occasions here and there where teams have Defended low scores in a match.
- Pakistan vs. India (Defended 125 Runs)
In this game, neither of the two teams played their best batting. Only Mohammad Azharuddin and Kapil Dev batted effectively for India while they were batting first in this match, which was played at the renowned Sharjah Cricket Ground. Their contributions helped India reach a total beyond 100. It was a straightforward score for Pakistan to chase, but Indian bowlers under the direction of Kapil Dev bowled very effectively on that particular day to dismiss Pakistan for just 87 runs, giving India a stunning 38-run victory in such a low-scoring contest.
- England vs. West Indies (Defended 127 Runs):
Surprisingly, this match featured the two best teams in the early 1980s and had a very low scoring total. Everton Mattis scored 62 of the 127 runs that the West Indies squad could only muster while batting first. Even with the famed West Indies assault, it appeared that the England squad would be able to chase this down, but Colin Croft bowled a fantastic spell, taking 6 wickets and rocking England, who narrowly lost the game by 2 runs.
- England vs. South Africa (Defended 129 Runs):
The hitters from both sides were dissatisfied on the day of this match in 1996 between these two elite teams. England should have easily won this game after South Africa batted first, but as they say, “cricket is a funny game,” so on that particular day, the English batters were unable to bat correctly and continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. All of South Africa’s bowlers took wickets, and South Africa won by a score of 14 runs.
- Afghanistan vs. Zimbabwe (Defended 129 Runs):
In 2017, these two teams competed in this encounter amongst the weaker teams. The Afghan team must have believed they had won when Zimbabwe scored 129 runs in their 50 overs while batting first, but they played even worse than their opponents and lost by three runs. It is not ideal for these games to occur frequently because the audience expects great scores.
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- Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe (Defended 131 Runs):
These two lower-ranked teams played each other in one more game, which was held in Sharjah. However, as they say, never say anything until both teams have batted. Zimbabwe demonstrated this to be truly the case as they gave one with their worst batting performances ever as they got clubbed out for 82, thus losing this match by a whopping 49 runs. Afghanistan batted first and they were extremely disappointing in their home ground and only managed to score 131 runs on the board. Such low-scoring games, particularly those against inferior clubs, don’t benefit anyone, thus they should improve their hitting techniques.
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