Highest and lowest totals scored at the Cricket World Cup

The highest and lowest totals scored at the Cricket World Cup

Dan Fitch takes a look at both the highest and the lowest scores ever recorded at the Cricket World Cup.

The 2011 Cricket World Cup will soon be with us. It's one of the few occasions when you get to see the world's cricketing minnows battling against the giants of the game and this tournament features such teams as Canada, Ireland, Kenya and the Netherlands.

When such sides take on the world's best, sometimes they rise to the challenge, but on most occasions they are soundly beaten. Some very high scores are hit against them when they bowl, while they can often struggle to hit a three figure total with the bat.

Here are the highest and lowest totals ever scored at the cricket World Cup.

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The Five Highest Totals Scored At The Cricket World Cup

5. New Zealand v Canada 2007: 363/5

It must have been a good batting surface at the Beausejour Stadium in Saint Lucia, because Canada made a spirited 249 in reply to New Zealand's 363. The Kiwi opener Lou Vincent hit 101 off just 117 balls to give his side the perfect platform to notch a massive score.

 

4. India v Sri Lanka 1999: 373/6

India humiliated their neighbours Sri Lanka in 1999 at the County Ground, Taunton. Four Indian players were out without reaching double figures, but a remarkable 183 by Sourav Ganguly and 145 from Rahul Dravid secured the fourth largest World Cup batting total.

 

3. Australia v South Africa 2007: 377/6

Hats must go off to an Australian side able to record such a high score against quality opposition. Matthew Hayden hit the quickest century in World Cup history off just 66 balls, before being caught on 101.

2. Sri Lanka v Kenya 1996: 398/5

En-route to winning the 1996 World Cup, Sri Lanka score 398 against Kenya, who themselves hit 254 in a run-filled encounter. Aravinda de Silva was the star of the show, as he scored 145.

 

1. India v Bermuda 2007: 413/5

The only side to have ever broken the 400 run barrier in a World Cup game, was the Indian side of 2007, who scored 413 against Bermuda at Queen's Park Oval. The winning margin of 257 runs is also the largest ever recorded at the World Cup, with Virenda Sehwag scoring 114.

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The Five Lowest Totals Scored At The Cricket World Cup

5. Pakistan v England 1992: 74

Pakistan should hand their heads in shame, as they are the only established cricket nation to find themselves on the list of the lowest scoring World Cup team, having been bowled out for 74 in 40.2 overs, only for the match to be abandoned. Derek Pringle did the most damage with three wickets for just eight runs, while Ian Botham took two for 12. Pakistan would wreak revenge on England by beating them in the final of the tournament.

4. Scotland v West Indies 1999: 68

If it wasn't bad enough for Scotland that they lost all their World Cup games in 1999, they were humiliated in England, as they scored just 68 at the County Ground, Derby. The West Indies Courtney Walsh took three wickets for seven run to deplete the Scottish attack.

 

3. Canada v England 1979: 45

In only the second World Cup, Canada were bowled out for 45 off 40.3 overs against the hosts England, with Chris Old and Bob Willis both taking four wickets.

 

2. Namibia v Australia 2003: 45

The Namibians were bowled out for 45 from just 14 overs in their 2003 World Cup match against Australia, as they attempted to chase a total of 301. Glenn McGrath was the Australian tormentor-in-chief as he took seven wickets.

1. Canada v Sri Lanka 2003: 36

Canada make their second appearance on this list, with the all-time lowest score ever recorded at a World Cup, of just 36 runs off 18.4 overs. Five Canadian batsmen were out for a duck, with Prabath Nissanka the most deadly bowler for Sri Lanka, taking four wickets for only 12 runs.