Cricket is known for its unpredictability, but rarely does a team get bowled out for just 2 runs. Yet, that’s exactly what happened in the Middlesex County Cricket League recently. Chasing a massive target of 426 runs, one team was dismissed for only 2 runs in just 5.4 overs, suffering a humiliating defeat by 424 runs. Eight of their batsmen didn’t even score a single run, while only two players managed to get one run each. This marks the lowest team total in cricket history. The previous lowest in first-class cricket was 6 runs, recorded back in 1810—a record that seemed untouchable in today’s high-scoring era. This extraordinary match took place between North London CC and Richmond CC on May 24.

The game, part of the third-tier Division One of the Middlesex County Cricket League, saw North London CC batting first and putting up a huge total of 426 runs for 6 wickets in their 45 overs. Dan Simmons led the charge with a stunning 140-run century, while Jack Levith and Nabil Abrahams contributed 43 and 42 runs respectively.

When Richmond CC came out to chase this daunting total, no one expected the match to end so abruptly—within just 34 balls. The batting side collapsed completely, with wickets falling one after another. Eight batsmen couldn’t even get off the mark before being dismissed. The team was all out for just 2 runs in 5.4 overs, handing North London a massive 424-run victory.

This collapse broke a record that stood for more than two centuries. The previous second-lowest total in first-class cricket was by “The Bs” team, who were all out for 6 runs against England at Lord’s in 1810. Another historic low score of 12 runs was recorded on May 24, 1877, when Oxford University was dismissed for 12 runs against Marylebone Cricket Club. In that match, six batsmen failed to score, and Edward Wellington’s 7 runs were the highest. Fred Morel took 7 wickets for Marylebone Cricket Club as they won by 77 runs.

Some unfortunate records also exist in international cricket: New Zealand holds the lowest Test innings total with 26 runs against England in 1955. In ODIs, Zimbabwe was bowled out for 35 runs against Sri Lanka in 2024. And in T20 Internationals, Ivory Coast recorded just 7 runs against Nigeria in 2024.