11 highest ODI team totals in history

History of 11 highest ODI team totals
History of 11 highest ODI team totals

The very first One Day International (ODI) cricket match was played between England and Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia on January 5, 1971, in which Australia won by 5 wickets. England managed to score only 190 runs for 10 wickets, from 39.4 overs. They failed to defend the total as Australia reached their goal with 42 balls remaining. Australia scored 191 runs for 5 wickets, from 34.6 overs. John Edrich of England got the 'Player of the Match' award for the first time in ODI cricket history.

If we focus on the history of the One Day International cricket, we can find that the team totals have increased continually. Recently, the latest playing techniques and tricks, brand new playing methods, and of course, the onset of T20 International cricket format has brought a rapid increment in the scorecard.

On March 6, 1996, Sri Lanka made the total of 398/5 against Kenya at Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy. Before 400 runs, it was the highest team total in ODI cricket.

On March 12, 2006, the memorable and the greatest ODI match was played between South Africa and Australia, in which both the teams passed the 400 runs mark for the first time, in their respective innings.

Here in this slideshow, we will focus on 11 such ODI team totals, which are the highest in the world cricket history.


#11. 414/7 India vs Sri Lanka, Rajkot, 2009

V
Virender Sehwag played a memorable 146 runs' knock off just 102 balls

On December 15, 2009, the 1st ODI of the Sri Lanka tour of India was played at Rajkot. Team India put a record 414 runs on board for 7 wickets and managed to beat Sri Lanka by only three runs. Sri Lanka's spectacular batting helped them to score 411 runs for 8 wickets.

Player of the match, Virender Sehwag played a destructive inning and scored 146 off just 102 balls, with a strike rate of 143.13. His 153 runs partnership with Sachin Tendulkar and 156 runs partnership with Mahendra Singh Dhoni helped Team India to set a huge target of 415 runs for the visitors.

In the second inning of the match, Sri Lanka appeared to be a menace for India as Tillakaratne Dilshan played an extraordinary 160 runs' inning off 124 balls, and Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara thrashed Indian bowling line-up to score 90 off just 43 balls. Though Dilshan and Sangakkara played unforgettable knocks in the match, Sri Lanka managed to score 411 runs at the end of the inning and unfortunately lost to India by just 3 runs.

#10. 417/6 Australia vs Afghanistan, Perth, 2015

David wa
David Warner cruised to 178 off 133 balls

On March 4, 2015, Australia set a World Cup record against Afghanistan as they put 417 runs on board for 6 wickets. Austrailia won the match by 275 runs, which is the second largest margin of win in ODI cricket history and the largest in the World Cup.

Player of the match, David Warner single-handedly destroyed the Afghani bowling line-up. Warner cruised to 178 off 133 balls, with a strike rate of 133.83 and scored his century just in the 25th over of the match. Steven Smith (95 off 98 balls) and Glenn Maxwell (88 off 39 balls) helped Australia to set the World Cup record total of 417.

In reply, Afghanistan managed to score only 142 runs and lost by record 275 runs. Mitchell Johnson took 4 wickets for his side and conceded only 22 runs in his 7.3 overs spell.


#9. 418/5 India vs West Indies, Indore, 2011

Kemar Roach congratulating Virender Sehwag for his epical 219 runs knock
Kemar Roach congratulating Virender Sehwag for his epical 219 runs' knock off just 149 balls

On December 8, 2011, the 4th ODI of the West Indies tour of India was played at Indore. Virender Sehwag's epical record-breaking performance powered team India to put their highest ODI total of 418 on board for 5 wickets.

Player of the match, Virender Sehwag exterminated West Indies bowlers ruthlessly and broke the record for the highest individual ODI score of the 'Master Blaster', Sachin Tendulkar. The 'Nawab of Najafgarh' played his 219 runs' knock off just 149 balls, with a strike rate of 146.97.

In reply, West Indies were bowled out 265 and lost by 153 runs. Denesh Ramdin scored 96 off 96 balls but failed to bring a fruitful result for his side. West Indies could not even play all the 50 overs of their inning as they lost all the wickets within 49.2 overs.

#8. 418/5 South Africa vs Zimbabwe, Potchefstroom, 2006

Mark Boucher played an impeccable 147* runs' inning for South Africa
Mark Boucher played an impeccable 147 (not out) runs' inning off just 68 balls

On September 20, 2006, the 3rd ODI of the Zimbabwe tour of South Africa was played at Potchefstroom. Mighty Mark's inhumane inning helped South Africa to put a humongous total of 418 runs on board for 5 wickets. South Africa registered a huge victory over Zimbabwe in the final ODI of the series, as they won by 171 runs.

Player of the match, and also the Player of the series, Mark Boucher (147* off 68 balls, SR: 216.17) tattered Zimbabwe bowlers along with Loots Bosman (88 off 70 balls) and Alviro Petersen (80 off 74 balls) to set the target of 419 runs for Zimbabwe.

In reply, Zimbabwe played a steady inning and scored 247 runs for 4 wickets only. Terry Duffin scored the highest 88 off 134 balls for his side.


#7. 434/4 Australia vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2006

Australia skipper Ricky Ponting smashed a spectacular 164 runs' inning off just 105 balls
Australia skipper Ricky Ponting smashed a spectacular 164 runs' inning off just 105 balls

On March 12, 2006, Australia skipper Ricky Ponting's spectacular 164 runs' inning off just 105 balls, with a strike rate of 156.19 led his team to build up a sky-high world record total of 434, for 4 wickets only. This was the first 400-plus score in world cricket history. Also, it was the record which lasted only 49.5 overs as ill-fated Australia lost to South Africa despite scoring such a seemingly invincible total.

Simon Katich (79 off 90 balls) and Michael Hussey (81 off 51 balls) also helped Australia in building such a gigantic total up. Unfortunate Australia failed to hold the world record as the overwhelming performance of South Africa left them stunned. South Africa scored an unbelievable total of 438 for 9 wickets and clinched the victory from the Aussies.


#6. 438/9 South Africa vs Australia, Johannesburg, 2006

Herschelle Gibbs smashed his career-high score, 175 off just 111 balls
Herschelle Gibbs thrashed his career-high score 175 off just 111 balls

On March 12, 2006, the 5th ODI of the Australia tour of South Africa was played at Johannesburg. It was the same match in which the Aussies crossed the 400 runs mark for the first time in world cricket history and set the target of 435 in front of South Africa. Australia skipper Ricky Ponting smashed a remarkable 164 runs' knock off 105 balls but, was outclassed by Herschelle Gibbs who thrashed his career-high score 175 off just 111 balls, with a strike rate of 157.65.

It was the greatest ODI match ever played, in which a total of 872 runs were scored in two innings. Graeme Smith's 90 off 55 balls and Mark Boucher's 50 (not out) off 43 balls helped South Africa to chase down a sky-high and seemingly unconquerable total of 435. South Africa registered an incredible victory as they put 438 runs on board for 9 wickets, with only one ball remaining.

Ricky Ponting and Herschelle Gibbs shared the player of the match award, for their extraordinary performance.

#5. 438/4 South Africa vs India, Mumbai, 2015

The Tr
The trio of AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock smashed a ton each and left India stunned

On October 25, 2015, the 5th ODI of the South Africa tour of India was played at Mumbai. Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers came out as the triple threat for team India. The 3D trio destroyed the bowling line-up of team India completely and scored a ton each. The record-breaking performance of these three batsmen helped the visitors cruise to 438 for only 4 wickets.

In this match, Faf du Plessis scored his first (133 off 115 balls, SR: 115.65), Quinton de Kock scored his second (109 off 87 balls, SR: 125.28) and AB de Villiers scored his third (119 off 61 balls, SR: 195.08) tons of the series.

In reply, India appeared to be toothless as they failed to create any solid resistance against South Africa bowlers. Shikhar Dhawan (60 off 59 balls) and Ajinkya Rahane (87 off 58 balls) tried to create little pressure on the visitors but went in vain. India managed to score only 224 runs from 36 overs and lost the match by 214 runs.


#4. 439/2 South Africa vs West Indies, Johannesburg, 2015

Th
The trio of Hashim Amla, Rilee Rossouw
and
AB de Villiers smashed a century each

On January 18, 2015, the 2nd ODI of the West Indies tour of South Africa was played at Johannesburg. Hashim Amla, Rilee Rossouw and AB de Villiers literally destroyed the bowling line-up of the visitors and scored a century each. The magnificent performance of these three batsmen helped South Africa to build a sublime total of 439 runs up, for only 2 wickets.

Hashim Amla (153* off 142 balls, SR: 107.74) and Rilee Rossouw's (128 off 115 balls, SR: 111.30) 247 runs partnership gave their team a solid start. After the dismissal of Rossouw, AB de Villiers came onto the pitch and started to trifle with the West Indies bowlers. Stunning AB scored the fastest ODI ton, off just 31 balls. He outclassed Corey Anderson's record of the fastest hundred, off 36 balls. AB played a dazzling knock of 149 runs, off just 44 balls, with an improbable strike rate of 338.63.

In reply, West Indies managed to score 291 runs in their 50 overs inning, for 7 wickets. South Africa won the match by 148 runs.

It was the first time in the world cricket history when three batsmen scored a ton each in an ODI match. The same story was repeated by South Africa again for the second time, later in the same year against India. AB de Villiers scored a century in that match too.


#3. 443/9 Sri Lanka vs Netherlands, Amstelveen, 2006

Sanath Jayasuriya
Sanath Jayasuriya scored an impressive 157 off just 104 balls

On July 4, 2006, the 1st ODI of the Sri Lanka tour of Netherlands was played at Amstelveen. The duo of Sanath Jayasuriya (157 off 104 balls, SR: 150.96) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (117* off 78 balls, SR: 150.00) scored impressive centuries and helped the visitors soar to 443 for 9 wickets.

In reply, Netherlands batting line-up failed to create any solid resistance against Sri Lanka bowlers. The Netherlands were bowled out 248 and lost by 195 runs.

Sri Lanka broke the world record for the highest ODI total in that match against the Netherlands. Previously in the same year, South Africa scored the highest ever ODI total of 438/9, breaking Australia's record total of 434/4 in the same match.

#2. 444/3 England vs Pakistan, Nottingham, 2016

A
Alex Hales brutally pounded Pakistani bowling line-up to score blusterous 171 off just 122 balls

On August 30, 2016, the 3rd ODI of the Pakistan tour of England and Ireland was played at Nottingham. England put an overwhelming world record total of 444 on board for only 3 wickets. England registered a thumping 169 runs victory over Pakistan in the final ODI match of the series and wrapped up the series.

Player of the match, Alex Hales (171 off 122 balls, SR: 140.16) and Joe Root's (85 off 86 balls, SR: 98.83) 248 runs partnership gave England a solid start. After the dismissal of both the set batsmen, Jos Buttler (90* off 51 balls, SR: 176.47) and Eoin Morgan (57* off 27 balls, SR: 211.11) came onto the pitch and started destroying the Pakistan bowlers. Both of them played till the end of the inning and set the towering total of 444 for their team.

In reply, Pakistan managed to score only 275 runs. They could not even play all the 50 overs of their inning as they lost all of their wickets within 42.4 overs.


#1. 481/6 England vs Australia, Nottingham, 2018

The
The foundation of England's invincible world record total of 481: Jonny Bairstow and Alex Hales

On June 19, 2018, the 3rd ODI of the Australia tour of England was played at Nottingham. The three brilliant partnerships between Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy (159 runs), Alex Hales and Jonny Bairstow (151 runs) and Eoin Morgan and Alex Hales (124 runs) powered team England to put the highest ODI total in the world cricket history of 481 on board, for 6 wickets.

The foundation of England's invincible and Alpine total of 481 was the magnificent innings played by Jonny Bairstow (139 off 92 balls, SR: 151.08) and Alex Hales (147 off 92 balls, SR: 159.78). England broke their previously owned record for the highest total in ODI history of 444/3 against Pakistan, on the same ground.

Jason Roy gave England a stout start as he played 82 runs' inning off 61 balls, with a strike rate of 134.42. After the dismissals of Roy, Bairstow and Hales, Eoin Morgan's sensible 67 runs' knock off just 30 balls (SR: 223.33) helped England to set the new world record.

In reply, Australia failed to dominate the British bowling line-up and collapsed to 239 all out in just 37 overs of their inning. England lodged a whopping 242 runs victory over the Aussies, leaving them astonished.


Send us news tips at [email protected]

Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download Cric Rocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more!

Quick Links

Edited by Rohit Nath