Nail biting, low-scoring thrillers in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. We are witnessing a lot of nail-biting low-scoring thrillers, especially in the USA leg in the ongoing edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup that is co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies. The Indian team led by skipper Rohit Sharma kept the Babar Azam-led Pakistan at bay while defending a total of 120, sealing the game by six runs courtesy of an excellent fightback from the Indian bowlers. The encounter between South Africa and Bangladesh was one more such example of a low-scoring thriller. The Aiden Markram-led side managed to snatch victory out of the jaws of defeat and became the first team to qualify for the Super eight stages of the tournament. They managed to defend a total of 114, sealing the game by four runs.
In this article, we will have a look at the lowest totals defended in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cups.
Lowest totals successfully defended in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup
New Zealand Vs Bangladesh, 29th February 2020 [NZ: 91 (18.2 overs), BAN: 74 (19.5 overs)]
New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine won the toss and opted to bat first against Bangladesh led by skipper Salma Khatun at the Junction Oval in Melbourne. The New Zealand openers Sophie Devine and Rachel Priest got their side off to a good start. However, courtesy of a collapse, New Zealand were bundled out for 91 in 18.2 overs. Wicket-keeper batter Rachel Priest (25 off 32 balls) was the top performer for her side with the bat. Ritu Moni (4-0-18-4), and Salma Khatun (2.2-0-7-3) were the top performers with the ball for Bangladesh.
A sensational fightback from the New Zealand bowlers ensured that Bangladesh were wrapped up for 74 with one ball to spare. New Zealand won the game by 17 runs. Hayley Jensen was awarded the Player of the Match for her exceptional performance (4-0-11-3) with the ball.
Sri Lanka Vs Bangladesh, 15th November 2018 [SL: 97/7 (20 overs), BAN: 72 (20 overs)]
The Bangladesh skipper Salma Khatun won the toss and opted to field first against Sri Lanka led by skipper Chamari Athapaththu at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia. After being inserted to bat first, Sri Lanka were restricted to 97/7 in their quota of overs. Shashikala Siriwardene was the top performer (31 off 33 balls) with the bat for Sri Lanka. Jahanara Alam (4-0-21-3) was the top performer with the ball for Bangladesh.
Chasing a target of 98, Bangladesh failed to gain any sort of momentum throughout the run chase and as a result, they were bundled out for 72 runs in their quota of overs. Sri Lanka clinched the game by 25 runs. Shashikala Siriwardene (4-0-10-2), and skipper Chamari Athapaththu (3-0-17-3) were the top performers with the ball for Sri Lanka. Shashikala Siriwardene was awarded the Player of the Match for her brilliant all-round performance, scoring a crucial (31 off 33 balls) with the bat and returning with match figures (4-0-10-2) with the ball.
Pakistan Vs India, 1st October 2012 [PAK: 98/9 (20 overs), IND: 97/8 (20 overs)]
Pakistan skipper Sana Mir won the toss and opted to bat first against India led by skipper Mithali Raj at the Galle International Stadium. Pakistan were restricted to 98/9 in their quota of overs, courtesy of a brilliant effort with the ball by the Indian bowling unit. Skipper Sana Mir (26 off 38 balls) and Nain Abidi (25 off 34 balls) were the top performers with the bat for Pakistan. Jhulan Goswami (4-1-16-2), and Rasanara Parwin (4-0-15-2) were the top performers with the ball for India.
Chasing a target of 99, India failed to get over the line, courtesy of a middle-order collapse, the women in blue fell 1 run short of the target. India were restricted to 97/8 in their quota of overs. Nida Dar was awarded the Player of the match for her brilliant match-winning performance (4-0-12-3) with the ball.
West Indies Vs Pakistan, 16th March 2016 [West Indies: 103/8 (20 overs), PAK: 99/5 (20 overs)]
Pakistan skipper Sana Mir won the toss and opted to field first against the West Indies led by skipper Stafanie Taylor at the MA. Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk. After being inserted to bat first, the West Indies were restricted to 103/8 in their quota of overs. The West Indies skipper Stafanie Taylor led from the front as she was the top performer (40 off 48 balls) with the bat for the West Indies.
Chasing a target of 104, Pakistan were restricted to 99/5 in their quota of overs. They fell short of the target by four runs as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Anisa Mohammed (4-1-25-3) was the top performer with the ball alongside Hayley Matthews (4-0-14-0) and skipper Stafanie Taylor (4-0-16-0). Despite being on the losing side, the Pakistan left-arm spinner Anam Amin was awarded the Player of the Match for her exceptional spell (4-0-16-4) with the ball.
West Indies Vs Bangladesh, 9th November 2018 [WI: 106/8 (20 overs), BAN: 46 (14.4 overs)]
The Bangladesh skipper Salma Khatun won the toss and opted to field first against the West Indies led by skipper Stafanie Taylor at the Providence Stadium, in Guyana. After being inserted to bat first, West Indies were restricted to 106/8 in their quota of overs. Wicket-keeper batter Kycia Knight (32 off 24 balls) and skipper Stafanie Taylor (29 off 44 balls) were the top performers with the bat for the West Indies.
Chasing a target of 107, Bangladesh were wrapped up for just 46 in just 14.4 overs, with 32 balls to spare. None of the Bangladeshi batters managed to enter into the double digits. Deandra Dottin (3.4-1-5-5), and Shakera Selman (4-1-12-2) were the top performers with the ball for the West Indies. Deandra Dottin was awarded the Player of the Match for her mind-blowing spell (3.4-1-5-5) with the ball.
Bangladesh Vs Ireland, 3rd April 2014 [BAN: 106/7 (20 overs), IRE: 89 (19.3 overs)]
Bangladesh skipper Salma Khatun won the toss and opted to bat first against Ireland led by skipper Isobel Joyce at the Sylhet Stadium. Bangladesh were restricted to 106/7 in their quota of overs. Sharmin Akhter (35 off 46 balls) was the top performer with the bat for Bangladesh. Lucy O’Reilly (4-0-15-3), Louise McCarthy (4-0-19-2), and skipper Isobel Joyce (4-0-17-2) were the top performers with the ball for Ireland.
Chasing a target of 107, Ireland were bundled out for just 89 with three balls to spare. Cecelia Joyce (19 off 32 balls) and Mellisa Scott-Hayward (16 off 16 balls) were the top performers with the bat for Ireland. Salma Khatun (3.3-1-8-2) and Panna Ghosh (4-0-25-3) were the top performers with the ball for Bangladesh. Panna Ghosh was awarded the Player of the Match for her match-winning spell (4-0-25-3) with the ball.
India Vs Pakistan, 2nd April 2014 [IND: 106/7 (20 overs), PAK: 100/9 (20 overs)]
Indian skipper Mithali Raj won the toss and opted to bat first against Pakistan led by skipper Sana Mir at the Sylhet Stadium. India ended up with a total of 106/7 in their quota of overs courtesy of crucial contributions from the Indian top order. Indian skipper Mithali Raj led from the front as she was the top scorer (39 off 43 balls) with the bat for her side. Sania Khan (4-0-15-3), and Asmavia Iqbal (4-0-16-2) were the top performers with the ball for Pakistan.
Chasing a target of 107, Pakistan were restricted to 100/9 in their quota of overs, falling short of the target by six runs. Nahida Khan (26 off 32 balls), and Nida Dar (24 off 13 balls) were the top performers with the bat for Pakistan. Soniya Dabir (4-0-14-3), and Sravanthi Naidu (4-0-12-2) were the top performers with the ball for India. Soniya Dabir was awarded the Player of the Match for her match-winning spell (4-0-14-3) with the ball.
Australia Vs New Zealand, 17th May 2010 [AUS: 106/8 (20 overs), NZ: 103/6 (20 overs)]
The two heavy-weights of women’s cricket, Australia led by skipper Alex Blackwell were up against Aimee Watkins in the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2010 in the West Indies. Australian skipper Alex Blackwell won the toss and opted to bat first at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, in Barbados. Australia posted a total of 106/8 in their quota of overs. Leah Poulton (20 off 28 balls) and Sarah Elliott (19 off 20 balls) were the top performers with the bat for Australia. Nicola Browne (4-1-11-2), and skipper Aimee Watkins (4-0-17-0) were the top performers with the ball for New Zealand.
Chasing a target of 107, New Zealand were restricted to 103/6 in their quota of overs, falling agonisingly short of the target by three runs. Sophie Devine (38 off 35 balls) and Nicola Browne (20 off 25 balls) were the top performers with the bat for New Zealand. Ellyse Perry (4-0-18-3), and Shelley Nitschke (4-0-10-1) were the top performers with the ball for Australia. Ellyse Perry was awarded the Player of the Match for her match-winning spell (4-0-18-3) with the ball. Nicola Browne from New Zealand was awarded the Player of the Series for scoring 79 runs with the bat and picking up nine wickets with the ball.
West Indies Vs South Africa, 14th November 2018 [WI: 107/7 (20 overs), SA: 76 (20 overs)]
South African skipper Dane van Niekerk won the toss and elected to field first against the West Indies led by skipper Stafanie Taylor at the Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet, in St Lucia. After being inserted to bat first, the West Indies posted a total of 107/7 in their quota of overs. Wicket-keeper batter Kycia Knight (32 off 36 balls) and Natasha McLean (28 off 24 balls) were the top performers with the bat for the West Indies. Shabnim Ismail (4-1-12-3), and Dane van Niekerk (3-0-8-2) were the top performers with the ball for South Africa.
Chasing a target of 108, South Africa were bundled out for 76 with eight balls to spare. West Indies clinched the game by 31 runs. Marizanne Kapp (26 off 34 balls), and wicket-keeper batter Lizelle Lee (24 off 34 balls) were the top performers with the bat for South Africa. Stafanie Taylor (3.4-0-12-4), and Shamilia Connell (4-0-9-1) were the top performers with the ball for the West Indies. Skipper Stafanie Taylor was awarded the Player of the Match for her sensational, match-winning spell (3.4-0-12-4) with the ball.
Sri Lanka Vs Pakistan, 6th May 2010 [SL: 108 (19.3 overs), PAK: 107 (20 overs)]
Sri Lankan skipper Chamani Seneviratne won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan led by skipper Sana Mir at the Warner Park, Basseterre, in St Kitts. Sri Lanka were bundled out for 108 with three balls to spare. Inoka Galagedara (25 off 28 balls), Suwini de Alwis (22 off 25 balls) were the top performers with the bat for Sri Lanka. Sana Mir (4-0-12-2), and Javeria Khan (4-0-24-2) were the top performers with the ball for Pakistan.
Chasing a target of 109, Pakistan were bundled out for 107 in their quota of overs. Bismah Mahroof (42 off 41 balls) was the top performer with the bat for Pakistan. Sripali Weerakkody (4-1-18-1), and Eshani Lokusuriyage (4-0-30-2) were the top performers with the ball for Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka won the game by one run. Pakistan batter Bismah Mahroof (42 off 41 balls) was awarded the Player of the Match despite being on the losing side.
