Top 5 lowest totals by South Africa in ODI cricket

Zimbabwe and the USA hold the record for the lowest innings total in ODI cricket – 35 runs.

In 1889, the South African cricket team made their test debut and became the third team to play international cricket after England and Australia.

They made their ODI debut in 1991, after returning from a two-decade ban due to apartheid. Even though they have never won an ODI World Cup title, the Proteas have a good record in ODIs: they have a win/loss ratio of 1.744 and a win percentage of 60.92.

They have, however, suffered some disastrous batting failures as well. In this article, we will talk about the five lowest innings totals in ODI cricket for South Africa.

Top 5 lowest totals by South Africa in ODI cricket:

5. 99 vs India, 2022

In the third ODI of the India vs South Africa ODI series 2022 in Delhi, the visitors were dismantled by the spin wizardry of Kuldeep Yadav, who claimed four wickets for only 18 runs in 4.1 overs.

Batting first, the Proteas were bowled out for 99 runs. Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, and Shahbaz Ahmed took two wickets each. Heinrich Klaasen top-scored for his side with 34, while no other batsman scored over 20. India won the game by seven wickets and with 30.5 overs to spare.

4. 83 vs England, 2022

South Africa recorded another low total in ODIs in 2022 when they were bowled out for 83 against England in Manchester. While chasing 202, the Proteas lost five wickets for only 27 runs to left-armers Reece Topley, David Willey and Sam Curran before spinners Adil Rashid and Moeen cleaned up the rest of their batting. England won the game by a huge margin of 118 runs.

3. 83 vs England, 2008

In an ODI in 2008 in Nottingham, the Three Lions had bundled the Proteas for 83 runs courtesy of Stuart Broad’s five-wicket haul. Batting first, South Africa lost five of their top seven to Broad and were eventually bowled out for 83. The highest score in their innings was Andre Nel’s 13.

England openers Ian Bell and Matt Prior chased down the target in 14.1 overs.

2. 83 vs India, 2023

South Africa suffered a huge defeat at the hands of India in their World Cup 2023 encounter in Kolkata. On a tough pitch for batting at the Eden Gardens, Virat Kohli scored one of the best centuries of his ODI career to take India to 326.

In the chase, the Protea batters simply had no answers to India’s bowlers. Ravindra Jadeja took a five-wicket haul as South Africa were knocked over for 83 runs. The highest score in their innings was 14 by Marco Jansen.

1. 69 vs Australia, 1993

South Africa’s lowest ODI total is 69 runs, which they recorded against Australia in 1993 in Sydney. Australia batted first and managed a total of 172/9.

In the chase, South Africa crumbled after losing captain Kepler Wessels. They went from 34/2 to 69 all out courtesy of pacer Paul Reiffel’s 4/13. Reiffel recorded outstanding figures of 8-4-13-4 as Australia won the game by 103 runs.

(All stats updated till 18th September, 2024)

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