Sri Lanka bag plethora of unwanted records with their lowest Test total
Sri Lanka Records Lowest Test Total in Crushing Defeat Against South Africa
Sri Lanka suffered a historic batting collapse on the second day of the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead, Durban, getting bowled out for just 42 runs—their lowest-ever total in men’s Test cricket.
South Africa’s Marco Jansen was the star of the show, claiming career-best figures of 7/13 to dismantle the Sri Lankan batting lineup. This performance surpassed Sri Lanka’s previous lowest Test total of 71, which they posted against Pakistan in Kandy back in 1994.
Sri Lanka’s Lowest Test Totals:
- 42 vs South Africa, Durban, 2024
- 71 vs Pakistan, Kandy, 1994
- 73 vs Pakistan, Kandy, 2006
- 81 vs England, Colombo, 2001
- 82 vs India, Chandigarh, 1990
- 82 vs England, Cardiff, 2011
Sri Lanka’s 42 also ranks as the second-lowest total in World Test Championship history, behind India’s 36 against Australia in 2020. It is the joint ninth-lowest total ever in Test cricket.
Adding to the remarkable collapse, South Africa needed only 83 balls to dismiss Sri Lanka, making it the second-fastest innings by balls bowled in Test history. The record for the fewest balls bowled to dismiss a side is held by England, who dismissed South Africa for 30 at Edgbaston in 1924.
Five Sri Lankan batters were dismissed for ducks, making this performance the joint second-most ducks in a single Test innings.
This dismal batting display gave South Africa a significant first-innings lead of 151, despite their own modest total of 191 earlier in the match.
