It is not easy being a T20 bowler. For a game format domineered by batsmen, it is very rare for bowlers to end on a high note. Moreover, with run-chases becoming the favorites of batters in the last few years, it becomes super difficult to defend totals.
This article will discuss superlative performances of bowlers teaming up to defend totals, even when their batters failed miserably – the top ten lowest totals successfully defended by teams in T20 Internationals. On the contrary, you can find here the highest successful run chases in T20 Internationals.
In this list, we have stuck to the scenarios where the first batting team batted the entire 20 overs or bowled out before the destined overs. This way, we have kept the rain-shortened games away from this list.
Lowest Totals Successfully Defended in T20Is
| TEAMS | TOTAL | OPPOSITION | OPPOSITION SCORE | VENUE | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | 90/10 | Sierra Leone | 71/10 | Lagos | 2021 |
| Jersey | 94/10 | Denmark | 89/10 | Almeria | 2021 |
| Scotland | 94/10 | UAE | 62/10 | Dubai | 2024 |
| West Indies | 96/9 | Ireland | 85/8 | Kingston | 2014 |
| Uganda | 102/7 | Honk Kong | 98/8 | Bulawayo | 2022 |
| Nigeria | 102/7 | Sierra Leone | 96/9 | Lagos | 2021 |
| Croatia | 104/6 | Grece | 101/10 | Vantaa | 2022 |
| Zimbabwe | 105/10 | West Indies | 79/7 | Port of Spain | 2010 |
| Ireland | 107/9 | Kenya | 105/7 | Mombasa | 2012 |
| Bhutan | 110/9 | Maldives | 104/8 | Bangi | 2022 |
Stats Insights
The record was set when the Nigerians bowled out Sierra Leone for the score of 71 to defend their tiny total of 91 in the teams’ bilateral T20 series in 2021. The host, Nigeria, won the 6-match T20 series 5-1. There was another entry of a game in that series in this list, as almost every game of that series was a low-scoring affair.
West Indies’ successful defense of their 9-wickets loss score of 96 against Ireland is the lowest best among the top tier teams.
