The pursuit of cricketing glory at the grandest stage has, on occasion, led teams down the path of unthinkable failures, especially with the bat in hand. Every once in a while, batting line-ups tend to falter with astonishing fragility, earning a place among the lowest-scoring performances in the history of the competition.

Discover the five lowest ODI World Cup totals - moments of fragility in grandeur!

• Canada 36 all out vs SL, 2003 World Cup

In a mismatch of grand proportions, a rampaging Sri Lankan unit bowled out Canada, an associate team, for just 36 runs in 19 overs during the 2003 World Cup. The usual suspect, Chaminda Vaas, signaled Canada's downfall with a quick three-wicket burst in his opening spell, and the new-ball legend received significant assistance from fellow pacers Prabath Nissanka and Dilhara Fernando.

Sri Lanka, justifying their reputation, effortlessly chased down the lowest total in World Cup history without breaking a sweat, requiring less than five overs to secure their crucial Group B points at Paarl's Boland Park.

• Canada 45 all out vs England, 1979 World Cup

Long before the Canadians were dismissed for a mere 36 runs in 2003, they were bowled out for 45 during their 1979 World Cup game against the hosts, England. English speedsters Bob Willis and Chris Old tore through Canada's lineup with identical four-wicket hauls, while Mike Hendrick and Ian Botham also joined the party, taking a wicket each.

• Namibia 45 all out vs Australia, 2003 World Cup

Nearly a week after the Canadians were folded up for 36 in Paarl, fellow associates Namibia were dismantled for 45 in Potchefstroom. 

Wielding a pace attack of Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Andy Bichel; the trio itself accounted for all 10 Namibian wickets on offer in exactly 14 combined overs. The match also witnessed ODI legend McGrath registering his career-best figures (7-15), as Australia romped home to victory by 256 runs.

Surprisingly, Namibia’s batting effort featured 15 runs as extras, including six wides and five no-balls to emerge as the highest contributor of the innings, one which featured 10 separate runs from the blade of captain Deon Kotze.

• Sri Lanka 55 all out vs India, 2023 World Cup

The fourth-lowest recorded World Cup total also happens to be the lowest-ever recorded by a Test-playing nation. An injury-ravaged Sri Lankan side, chasing 358 against the 2023 World Cup hosts, India, at a packed Wankhede Stadium, faltered from the outset, losing in-form opener Pathum Nissanka off the very first ball of the innings.

Indian pacers Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah restricted Sri Lanka's run-chase response to inside 20 overs, resulting in a 302-run win, a record margin over a Test-playing nation in World Cups.

Notably, the Sri Lankan innings featured four double-digit scores, three from lower-order batters, and another 10 runs contributed through extras.

• Bangladesh 58 all out vs West Indies, 2011 World Cup

Bangladesh, backed by a strong home crowd in Mirpur, capitulated for just 58 against West Indies in a must-win World Cup 2011 Group B game.