5 biggest margins of victory in ODI cricket

#3 272 runs – South Africa vs Zimbabwe

South Africa thrashed Zimbabwe by 272 runs

After sealing the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe in 2010 by winning the first two games, South Africa were looking for a clean sweep as they travelled to Benoni. South Africa won the toss and opted to bat first. Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith gave the Proteas a steady start but were soon dismissed for 24 and 26 respectively within the space of nine balls.

AB de Villiers and JP Duminy then began to give the Zimbabwe bowlers a solid beating, dealing mainly in fours and sixes. Both players reached their centuries and added 219 runs for the third wicket before the former was dismissed for 109 by Hamilton Masakadza.

Duminy went on to score 129 before being dismissed by Ian Nicholson. Cameos from Albie Morkel, David Miller, and Colin Ingram took South Africa to a mammoth total of 399/6 from their 50 overs.

In reply, the South African bowlers did not give the Zimbabwean batsmen a chance to impose themselves as the likes of Juan Theron, Wayne Parnell, Albie Morkel, and Johan Botha were just too much for the opposition. Zimbabwe were eventually skittled out for 127 and South Africa registered their biggest ODI victory, by 272 runs, sweeping the series 3-0 in the process.