The County Championship is the oldest domestic cricket tournament in England, starting in 1890. Division One is the top level, where the best county players compete. But even at this level, teams sometimes collapse badly, especially on difficult pitches with strong bowling attacks.
The lowest ever score in County Championship Division One history is an extraordinary 40, made by Kent against Essex at Canterbury in 2019, a day when not a single Kent batter reached double figures. From that nadir through to scores of 59, 60, and beyond. To find out what happened in each of these historic low scores, keep reading.
To know more about these lowest scores, keep reading this blog.
Lowest Scores in County Championship Division One
Here is the list of the 10 lowest scores in County Championship Division One history.
| Team | Score | Run Rate | Opposition | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kent | 40 | 2.2 | v Essex | Canterbury |
| Middlesex | 49 | 1.77 | v Notts | Nottingham |
| Yorkshire | 50 | 2.67 | v Essex | Chelmsford |
| Somerset | 50 | 3.4 | v Warwickshire | Taunton |
| Northants | 56 | 1.84 | v Hampshire | Southampton |
| Hampshire | 57 | 3.38 | v Kent | Southampton |
| Notts | 59 | 1.77 | v Yorkshire | Nottingham |
| Kent | 59 | 2.25 | v Somerset | Canterbury |
| Essex | 59 | 2.64 | v Lancashire | Chelmsford |
| Derbyshire | 60 | 1.71 | v Middlesex | Lord’s |
1. Kent 40 vs Essex (2019)
Kent were bowled out for just 40 runs against Essex in 2019, the lowest score in Division One history. They had a lead of 112 runs, but still collapsed badly. The team lost all 10 wickets in just 18.1 overs.
No batter crossed even 10 runs. Sam Cook took 7 wickets for 23 runs, and Mohammad Amir took 2 wickets. The wickets kept falling quickly, including 3 wickets in just 6 balls. Essex then chased the target and won by 3 wickets. This match is remembered as one of the biggest collapses in county cricket history.
2. Middlesex 49 vs Nottinghamshire (2006)
Middlesex scored only 49 runs against Nottinghamshire in 2006 at Trent Bridge. They had scored 276 runs in the first innings but failed badly in the second. Charlie Shreck took 8 wickets for 31 runs and destroyed the batting lineup.
Middlesex lost wickets regularly and could not build any partnerships. The entire team was bowled out quickly, leading to an innings defeat. Nottinghamshire bowlers made the most of the pitch conditions and dominated the game, letting their team win by an innings and 33 runs.
3. Yorkshire 50 vs Essex (2018)
Yorkshire were all out for just 50 runs in their first innings against Essex in 2018. The innings ended in less than 20 overs. Sam Cook took 5 wickets, and Peter Siddle took 4 wickets. The pitch helped fast bowlers, making batting very difficult. Despite this, Yorkshire made a strong comeback.
Harry Brook scored 124 runs, and the team recovered well. Yorkshire then won the match by 91 runs. This match is special because a team that scored only 50 runs still won, which is very rare in cricket history.
4. Somerset 50 vs Warwickshire (2011)
Somerset were bowled out for 50 runs in just 88 balls against Warwickshire in 2011. Warwickshire won the match by an innings and 382 runs, one of the biggest wins ever. Somerset were expected to perform well but failed badly.
Warwickshire scored 642 runs and then bowled out Somerset at 201. They followed on and took their 10 wicket at just 50 runs. Wickets kept falling quickly, and no strong partnership was built as Rikki Clark took 5/10. This match became one of Somerset’s worst defeats and showed how strong Warwickshire’s bowling attack was during that season.
5. Northamptonshire 56 vs Hampshire (2023)
Northamptonshire were bowled out for 56 runs against Hampshire in 2023. Hampshire had scored 367 runs earlier in the match. Northamptonshire lost their first wicket at 0, and soon they were 27 for 7.
Keith Barker took 4 wickets, and Liam Dawson also bowled well. The team could not recover and collapsed quickly. They were forced to follow on and lost by an innings and 135 runs. This match clearly showed the gap between both teams and highlighted Northamptonshire’s poor batting performance during the season.
6. Hampshire 57 vs Kent (2022)
Hampshire were bowled out for just 57 runs against Kent in 2022. This was their lowest score at the Ageas Bowl. Kent bowled them out in less than 17 overs. Matt Quinn took 6 wickets for 23 runs and led the attack. Hampshire lost 6 of their top 7 batters for single-digit scores.
Only Ian Holland (19) and Keith Barker (13) showed some fight. Hampshire were already trailing by 108 runs, and this collapse ended their title hopes. Kent won the match by 77 runs. This was one of Hampshire’s worst batting performances in recent years.
7. Nottinghamshire 59 vs Yorkshire (2010)
Nottinghamshire were bowled out for 59 runs against Yorkshire in 2010 at Trent Bridge. The innings lasted just over 33 overs. Yorkshire bowlers dominated and took wickets regularly. Oliver Hannon-Dalby played a key role in the bowling attack.
Nottinghamshire batters struggled to build any partnerships and kept losing wickets. Yorkshire used this advantage and won the match comfortably by 5 wickets. Interestingly, Nottinghamshire still went on to win the County Championship that season.
8. Kent 59 vs Somerset (2019)
Kent scored only 59 runs against Somerset in 2019 at Canterbury. This happened in their second innings, after a close first-innings lead of 30 runs. Lewis Gregory was the star bowler, taking 5 wickets for 21 runs and 11 wickets in the match.
Kent lost wickets quickly, with 7 wickets falling between 32 and 40 runs. Zak Crawley scored 7, and Joe Denly scored 24. The team failed to build partnerships. Somerset easily chased the target of 30 runs and won by 10 wickets. This match was another example of Kent’s poor batting form in 2019.
9. Essex 59 vs Lancashire (2022)
Essex were bowled out for 59 runs against Lancashire in 2022 at Chelmsford. They were chasing a target of 98 runs but collapsed badly. George Balderson took 5 wickets for 14 runs and also claimed a hat-trick. Will Williams supported with 4 wickets for 24 runs.
Essex lost 9 wickets for just 35 runs. Only 2 batters crossed double figures, with Alastair Cook scoring 14. The pitch conditions were very tough for batting. Lancashire won the match comfortably. The entire match had only 370 runs scored in 4 innings.
10. Derbyshire 60 vs Middlesex (2013)
Derbyshire were bowled out for 60 runs against Middlesex in 2013 at Lord’s. This happened in their second innings, after they had a small lead in the first. Tim Murtagh took 5 wickets for 12 runs and led the attack. The pitch helped bowlers, and Derbyshire batters struggled to score.
Wickets kept falling quickly, and the team could not recover. Middlesex chased the target down easily and won the match by 9 wickets. This collapse became Derbyshire’s lowest score against Middlesex and was a key moment in their poor season.
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Conclusion: Kent’s 40 Remains The Lowest Score in Division One History
Kent scored just 40 runs at Canterbury in 2019, which is the lowest total in County Championship Division One history. No batter managed to score even 10 runs in that innings. Sam Cook was the main reason behind this collapse, taking 7 wickets for 23 runs.
In another match, Yorkshire were bowled out for 50 runs at Chelmsford in 2018. Despite this low score, they made a strong comeback and won the match, a result considered one of the most surprising.
These matches show how dangerous fast bowling can be in English conditions and how even strong batting teams can collapse quickly on a tough day.
