Not just in local cricket, not even in a domestic competition of any country, but in an international cricket match, a team was all out for just 7 runs. That too in a match where the opposing team scored 271 runs in 20 overs.

This incredible incident happened in the Nigeria-Ivory Coast match. Ivory Coast was all out for just 7 runs against Nigeria in the 2026 T20 World Cup African qualifiers. This is the lowest score in international T20s. The world record of Mongolia being all out for 10 runs against Singapore two months ago has been broken.

In the match, Nigeria won the toss and decided to bat first and then scored 271 runs for 4 wickets in 20 overs. For Nigeria, its opener Salim Salau scored 112 runs in 53 balls. In the middle order, Isaac Opeke scored 65 runs in 23 balls. The result was that this team set a big target of 272 runs in front of Ivory Coast.

The Ivory Coast team is all out on 7 runs

Now when the Ivory Coast team came to bat, the first 2 wickets fell on the score of 4. Then two more batsmen got out on the score of 5. Three more batsmen’s wickets fell on the score of 6 runs while they got all out on 7 runs. Ivory Coast scored 7 runs in 7.3 overs of bowling and lost all their wickets.

New World Record for Lowest Score in T20Is

Nigeria’s crushing victory over Ivory Coast in the 2026 T20 World Cup African qualifiers created two major records. Ivory Coast was bowled out for just 7 runs, setting a new world record for the lowest total in Men’s T20 Internationals. Nigeria won the match by a staggering 264 runs, marking the third-largest margin of victory in T20Is by runs.

Record Broken After 81 Days

Before this, the record for the lowest score in Men’s T20Is was 10 runs, set by Mongolia on September 24, 2026, against Singapore. In just 81 days, Ivory Coast has now rewritten the history books.

Nigeria’s Mammoth Total

The match was held at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval in Lagos, Nigeria. Batting first, Nigeria posted a massive 271 for 4 in 20 overs. Opener Salim Salau smashed 112 runs off 53 balls, hitting 13 fours and 2 sixes. Middle-order batsman Isaac Okpe remained unbeaten with 65 runs off just 23 balls, while Sulaiman Ransiwi contributed 50 runs off 29 balls.

In reply, Ivory Coast’s batting lineup crumbled under pressure. Their innings started poorly, with Ouattara Mohammed getting out on the last ball of the first over, leaving the score at 4 runs. From there, wickets fell in clusters:

  • 1st and 2nd wickets fell at 4 runs.
  • 3rd and 4th wickets at 5 runs.
  • 5th, 6th, and 7th wickets at 6 runs.
  • The final three wickets fell at 7 runs, ending the innings.

Historical Context

Despite being bowled out for just 7 runs, Ivory Coast avoided the shame of being dismissed in the fewest balls. Additionally, while Nigeria’s 264-run win is monumental, it falls short of the biggest victory in T20Is, which belongs to Zimbabwe’s 290-run win over the Gambia. Nigeria’s dominant performance, paired with Ivory Coast’s historic collapse, will be remembered as one of the most remarkable matches in T20 cricket history.

Latest News

A sports journalist driven by passion and dedication, I blend my love for writing and games seamlessly. Currently with Timesbull and having honed my craft at Sportskeeda, Cricreads, and Athlete Fortune,...