Early wickets fell in the game, with 34.5 overs bowled. South Africa batted first, but everything went downhill from there with the team getting bundled out for paltry 69 in 20.4 overs. The top order went for a duck, scoring only 22 runs during their time at the crease from five batters. Sinalo Jafta top-scored with 22 runs in 36 balls for South Africa, the remaining 17 runs coming from the other five batters.
England won the toss and after lunch set about the target. Tammy Beaumont remains not out on 21 from 35 balls, while Amy Jones is not out on 40 from 50 balls. The pair scored the final 73 runs for the loss of no wickets in just 14.1 overs.
Interestingly enough, South Africa’s 69 doesn’t even qualify them in the five lowest World Cup totals, with many batting collapses and nightmares having been witnessed throughout the editions.
Lowest Scores in Women’s Cricket
| Team | Score | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 27/10 | Australia | 1997 |
| Netherlands | 29/10 | Australia | 1988 |
| India | 37/10 | New Zealand | 1982 |
| Netherlands | 40/10 | New Zealand | 1993 |
| Denmark | 47/10 | England | 1993 |
Pakistan – 27/10 (vs Australia) 1997
In Hyderabad on December 14, for the 13th Women’s World Cup match of the 1997 Women’s World Cup, Pakistan Women took on Australia Women in the lowest-ever recorded team-total match. Pakistan Women declared the first innings at 27 all-out in 13.4 overs. Six of the Pakistani batters were out for ducks, and the tail-ender, Kiran Ahtazaz (11*), was the highest scorer for Pakistan. The Australian team chased down the target in 6.1 overs for the loss of one wicket.
Netherlands – 29/10 (vs Australia), 1988
Being the opening match of the 1988 Women’s World Cup, between Australia and Netherlands, the second-least total was held for the whole tournament. Australia basically went berserk in the first innings and ripped through the 60 overs for just a single wicket at a par score of 284. Lindsay Reeler and Ruth Buckstein each hit a century; they made 143* and 100 respectively. The Netherlands, in reply, then began to lose seven wickets on the scoreboard from 0 to 6, while their other two best scorers barely managed to reach 12 and 8.
Read Also:- Best Bowling Performances by Pakistan Women
India – 37/10 (vs New Zealand), 1982
The sixth match of the 1982 Women’s World Cup was marred by a then-lowest-ever total of 37 runs by India Women against New Zealand Women. New Zealand could only muster 80 runs in the first innings. India could not stand up to the challenge, however, and were bowled out for just 37 in the 35th over. Rajeshwari Dholakia (10*) was the only batter to enter into double digits.
Netherlands – 40/10 (vs New Zealand), 1993
In the 16th match of the 1993 Women’s World Cup, the batters from the Netherlands were almost entirely dismissed, managing a paltry innings total of 40 runs off 54.2 overs, with four batters failing to score, and only Ariette van Noortwijk managing to make it into double figures by scoring 22 runs. New Zealand then dispatched the target in 13.2 overs, winning the match by 10 wickets, with the openers Penny Kinsella and Debbie Hockley remaining not out for 24 and 13 runs, respectively.
Denmark – 47/10 (vs England), 1993
Onra 2nd match of the 1993 Women’s World Cup, Denmark made what was then the third-lowest team total for the tournament. England Women managed a felicity target of 286 runs in the first innings, with Janette Brittin getting a wonderful century of 104 runs, with opening partner Helen Plimmer getting 77 runs herself, and Barbara Daniels remaining not out at 60*. Denmark crumbled in reply, but seven batters went out for ducks; Trine Christiansen, though, did go in double figures, passing 20, top-scoring in an extremely heavy defeat.
