This article explores the highest team totals recorded in ODI cricket that ultimately ended in defeats.
Highest ODI Team Total in Losing Cause
| SCORE | TEAM | OPPONENT | LOST BY | VENUE | YEAR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 434/4 | Australia | South Africa | 1 wicket | Johannesburg | 2006 |
| 411/8 | Sri Lanka | India | 3 runs | Rajkot | 2009 |
| 401/6 | New Zealand | Pakistan | 21 runs (D/L) | Bengaluru | 2023 |
| 389 | West Indies | England | 29 runs | St George’s | 2019 |
| 383/9 | New Zealand | Australia | 5 runs | Dharamsala | 2023 |
| 371/6 | Australia | South Africa | 4 wickets | Durban | 2016 |
| 369/6 | Scotland | Netherlands | 4 wickets | Dundee | 2025 |
| 366/8 | England | India | 15 runs | Cuttack | 2017 |
| 365/9 | England | New Zealand | 13 runs (D/L) | The Oval | 2015 |
| 365 | England | Scotland | 6 runs | Edinburgh | 2018 |
| 361/7 | Pakistan | England | 12 runs | Southampton | 2019 |
| 360/8 | West Indies | England | 6 wickets | Bridgetown | 2019 |
Key Insights on the Highest Totals in Losing ODI Causes
Record-Breaking Team Totals in ODI Defeats
Australia have recorded the highest team total in an ODI loss. They failed to defend 434 for 5 against South Africa in the 2006 Johannesburg ODI.
Notably, Australia were the first team to score 400 or more runs in an ODI innings. The 434 for 5 is still their highest team total in the 50-over format.
South Africa’s successful run chase of 435 (438/9) is the highest by a team in ODIs.
New Zealand’s410 for 6 against Pakistan in 2023 is the highest team total in a losing cause in the ODI World Cup.
England are the only team to lose five ODIs after scoring 350 or more runs in an innings.
Highest Unsuccessful ODI Run Chases
411 for 8 by Sri Lanka is the highest team total in an unsuccessful run chase in ODIs. They fell short of India’s 414 for 7 in the 2009 Rajkot ODI.
West Indies’ 389 all out against England in 2019 is their highest team score in this format. This is also the highest total by a team in an ODI defeat at home.
South Africa have recorded the highest run rate in an ODI loss. They scored at 8.9 while aggregating 187 for 9 in a rain-curtailed failed chase of 191 against Sri Lanka in the 2018 Pallekele ODI.
Associate Nation Records in ODI Losses
Scotland hold the highest team total in an ODI loss among associate nations. Their 369 for 6 wasn’t enough to save the 2025 match against the Netherlands.
191 of Scotland’s 369 runs came off the bat of George Munsey. This is the highest individual score by an associate batter in ODIs.
Munsey’s 191 is also the third–highest individual score by any batter in an ODI defeat.
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