The Big Bash League (BBL) has witnessed some dramatic batting collapses over the years, but none more shocking than Sydney Thunder’s 15 all out against Adelaide Strikers, the lowest team total in BBL history.
Chasing a target of 140, Sydney Thunder were bowled out in just 5.5 overs, with no batter reaching double figures. It remains one of the most remarkable bowling displays and batting failures in T20 cricket.
In this article, we’ll look at the top 10 lowest team totals in BBL history, the bowlers who made the difference, and how these unforgettable moments unfolded.
Lowest Team Totals In BBL – Top 10
Apart from Sydney Thunder’s infamous score of 15 all-out, the Big Bash League has seen many other low totals and striking batting failures over the years.
Let’s examine the top 10 lowest totals in BBL history:
| Lowest Total | Team | Opposition | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Sydney Thunder | Adelaide Strikers | 16 December 2022 |
| 57 | Melbourne Renegades | Melbourne Stars | 3 January 2015 |
| 60 | Melbourne Renegades | Sydney Sixers | 13 December 2020 |
| 61 | Melbourne Stars | Sydney Sixers | 5 December 2021 |
| 62 | Sydney Thunder | Sydney Sixers | 21 January 2023 |
| 68 | Adelaide Strikers | Melbourne Stars | 15 January 2021 |
| 69 | Perth Scorchers | Melbourne Stars | 12 December 2012 |
| 73 | Brisbane Heat | Sydney Sixers | 18 January 2018 |
| 74 | Sydney Sixers | Melbourne Stars | 10 February 2019 |
| 74 | Hobart Hurricanes | Melbourne Renegades | 19 December 2024 |
1. Sydney Thunder – 15 vs Adelaide Strikers
The young pace sensation Henry Thornton dominated the Thunder batters. His impressive five-wicket haul, along with Wes Agar’s four wickets, led to one of the biggest and most dramatic collapses in T20 cricket.
The Thunder were bowled out for just 15 runs while chasing a target of 140 against the Strikers in the 2022/23 edition of the BBL.
2. Melbourne Renegades – 57 vs Melbourne Stars
Renegades had a disappointing Melbourne Derby. They were bowled out for just 57 runs against their rivals, the Melbourne Stars, in BBL 2015.
All Stars bowlers took at least one wicket. Only one Renegades batter reached double digits, showing a total batting collapse.
3. Melbourne Renegades – 60 vs Sydney Sixers
Ben Dwarshuis led the Sydney Sixers’ bowling unit. He dominated the Renegades’ batting lineup and forced the Melbourne team to their second-lowest total in Big Bash League history.
Four Melbourne Renegades batters were out without scoring, returning to the pavilion with a duck.
4. Melbourne Stars – 61 vs Sydney Sixers
The Melbourne Stars recorded their lowest score ever in Big Bash League history after a weak batting performance against the Sydney Sixers during the 2021/22 season.
Veteran Australian spinner Steve O’Keefe took 4 wickets. Sean Abbott added 3 more. Together, they showed a strong bowling performance that dismantled the Stars in Sydney.
5. Sydney Thunder – 62 vs Sydney Sixers
The Sydney Thunder were bowled out for just 62 runs against the Sydney Sixers. This total is the fifth-lowest in BBL history.
The pacers Sean Abbott and Ben Dwarshuis, along with an impressive performance from Steve O’Keefe, helped restrict their opponents to a low score.
6. Adelaide Strikers – 68 vs Melbourne Stars
Adelaide Strikers scored only 68 runs against the Melbourne Stars in the 2020/21 Big Bash League. This score is the lowest in BBL history.
Adam Zampa’s impressive spin bowling with a five-wicket haul put the Strikers’ batters in a tough position and led to a major batting collapse.
7. Perth Scorchers – 69 vs Melbourne Stars
No one can forget Lasith Malinga’s amazing 6/7 performance in the 2011/12 Big Bash League season. The Perth Scorchers faced his brilliance. The Sri Lankan fast bowler broke down their lineup with a series of precise yorkers.
Only two Scorchers batters scored more than 10 runs, as the whole batting team fell apart under Malinga’s deadly accuracy.
8. Brisbane Heat – 73 vs Sydney Sixers
Sean Abbott’s strong performance on 4/11 shook the Brisbane Heat batters. They fell to a low total of only 73 runs in 2018 at the SCG.
Sydney Sixers chased the target inside 10 overs and won by 6 wickets.
9. Sydney Sixers – 74 vs Melbourne Stars
Sydney Sixers set an unwanted record when they scored their lowest total in the Big Bash League against the Melbourne Stars in 2019.
The Stars’ bowlers outperformed them, particularly Nepal leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane, who took 3 wickets while the Sixers lost by 94 runs.
10. Hobart Hurricanes – 74 vs Melbourne Renegades
Melbourne Renegades’ Tom Rogers and Fergus O’Neill each took three wickets. They bowled exceptionally well with the new ball, leaving the Hurricanes batters lacking answers and holding them to just 74 runs.
Nathan Ellis, the Hurricanes’ skipper, was the only batter to show any grit. The rest of the lineup failed badly and cheaply. They lost four more wickets later in the innings.
Related Reads:
Conclusion: Sydney Thunder’s 15 Remains The Lowest Score In BBL History
Sydney Thunder’s total of 15 against Adelaide Strikers still stands as the lowest in Big Bash League history a game remembered for its incredible bowling and total domination.
Over the seasons, several teams have struggled to even cross 80 runs, proving how much impact bowlers can have in this format. These low-scoring thrillers remind fans that in the BBL, one great bowling spell can change everything and such moments will keep adding spice to the tournament in future seasons.
