Mongolia’s cricket team has made headlines for its struggle on the field, particularly highlighting a shocking performance in the T20 International format. On September 9, 2024, during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier A match against Malaysia, the Mongolian team set a new low by being bowled out for just 31 runs. This dismal achievement has now etched Mongolia’s name further into the record books as one of the teams with the lowest scores in T20 Internationals. However, this is not the first time Mongolia has suffered such a fate in recent months—this incident marks the fifth time they have failed to reach respectable totals in T20 matches.
Mongolia’s 31-Run Collapse Against Malaysia
The match against Malaysia was characterized by a catastrophic batting collapse. Mongolia’s innings was so poorly executed that the extras—13 runs—outweighed the total runs scored by any individual batsman. The highest scorer for Mongolia was opener Mohan Vivekanandan, who managed to secure only 8 runs. An astonishing fact about this match is that none of the batsmen managed to reach double figures, with the 11th batsman remaining unbeaten on 4 runs, the second-highest contribution to the team’s score.
The Dominant Malaysian Bowlers
On the bowling side, Malaysian bowler Virandeep Singh was instrumental in dismantling the Mongolian batting lineup. He registered remarkable figures of 5 wickets for just 5 runs over 4 overs, earning him the Player of the Match title for his outstanding performance.
Malaysia’s Swift Chase of the Target
With a target of just 32 runs to chase, Malaysia showcased their batting prowess and swiftly completed the task in only 2.1 overs, winning the match by 10 wickets. Their captain and opener, Syed Aziz, played a significant role, scoring an unbeaten 31 runs off just 11 deliveries, further emphasizing the stark contrast between the two teams’ performances.
Mongolia’s Record of Lowest T20I Scores
The 31 runs scored against Malaysia mark the fifth lowest total in T20 International cricket for Mongolia. The team has agonizingly made scores lower than this on four previous occasions in a short span of time—truly a period they would rather forget. Notably, on September 5, 2024, they set the world record for the lowest score in T20 International history by being all out for a mere 10 runs against Singapore.
A Quick Overview of Mongolia’s Lowest Scores in T20I
- 10 runs against Singapore on September 5, 2024 (World Record)
- 12 runs against Japan on May 8, 2024 (Second Lowest)
- 17 runs against Hong Kong on August 31, 2024 (Third Lowest)
- 26 runs against Japan on May 9, 2024 (Fourth Lowest)
- 31 runs against Malaysia on September 9, 2024 (Fifth Lowest)
As Mongolia continues to struggle in T20 internationals, cricket fans and analysts alike are left wondering if they can turn their fortunes around in the near future. Given the trajectory of their recent performances, it will be interesting to see how this young cricketing nation can regroup and improve upon these disheartening statistics.
