Ivory Coast Sets New Record for Lowest Men’s T20I Total with Seven Runs

Ivory Coast recorded the lowest-ever score in a men’s T20 international, managing only seven runs in their match against Nigeria in Lagos on Sunday. This follows their previous T20 international where they scored 21 runs. Nigeria, playing as the hosts, established a target of 271 runs, propelled by Selim Salau’s 112 runs from 53 balls during their opening innings. Ivory Coast’s response was minimal, resulting in a 264-run defeat at the Tafawa Balewa Oval. Six of their batters were dismissed without scoring, and opener Ouattara Mohamed was their highest scorer with four runs. Mimi Alex, Maiga Ibrahim, and Dje Claude each contributed one run to Ivory Coast’s total score. This seven-run total represents the lowest ever recorded in the men’s T20I format, surpassing the previous record of 10 runs achieved by Mongolia earlier this year and by the Isle of Man in 2023. It marks the first occasion a team has posted a single-digit total in a men’s T20 international. Furthermore, Nigeria’s margin of victory stands as the third-largest ever documented. This loss is Ivory Coast’s second in two matches within their World Cup qualifying group. In their initial fixture, they were bowled out for 21 runs, leading to a 168-run defeat against Sierra Leone. The overall record for the lowest total in T20I cricket is jointly held by the women’s teams of Maldives and Mali, both of whom scored six runs in 2019.