Even though cricket is a game of bat and ball, sometimes things go south for bowlers, and batsmen end up having the last laugh. There have been many instances of batsmen going berserk and scoring mammoth team totals in ODI matches.
In recent years, ODI matches have witnessed teams scoring 300+ runs easily. But now things have changed, with teams even looking to break the mark of 400 runs.
And England even went one step ahead as they posted 498/4 against the Netherlands in 2022 — the highest team score by a team in ODIs. This gigantic score prompted me to delve into the highest team totals in ODI cricket.
So, here’s a list of the top 10 highest team totals in ODI cricket.
Highest Team Totals in ODI cricket
| Team | Score | Opposition | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 498/4 | Netherlands | Amstelveen | 17 Jun 2022 |
| England | 481/6 | Australia | Nottingham | 19 Jun 2018 |
| England | 444/3 | Pakistan | Nottingham | 30 Aug 2016 |
| Sri Lanka | 443/9 | Netherlands | Amstelveen | 4 Jul 2006 |
| South Africa | 439/2 | West Indies | Johannesburg | 18 Jan 2015 |
| South Africa | 438/9 | Australia | Johannesburg | 12 Mar 2006 |
| South Africa | 438/4 | India | Wankhede | 25 Oct 2015 |
| Australia | 434/4 | South Africa | Johannesburg | 12 Mar 2006 |
| South Africa | 428/5 | Sri Lanka | Delhi | 7 Oct 2023 |
| South Africa | 418/5 | Zimbabwe | Potchefstroom | 20 Sep 2006 |
Key insights from the above stats
14: Before the 2015 World Cup, the England team had only scored two 360+ scores in ODIs, but after the 2015 World Cup, they have scored 14 360+ scores. This shows their tremendous transformation in the ODI format after their dismal performance in the 2015 World Cup.
5: South Africa, India, and England have scored 5 or more 400+ scores in ODIs.
434: This is the highest team total in a losing cause. On March 12, 2006, Australia, while batting first, put on a massive total of 434/4 against South Africa in Johannesburg. However, South Africa chased down the mammoth total with 1 wicket and 1 ball to spare, which remains the highest successful run chase in ODIs.
872: The most runs scored in 2 innings of an ODI match combined (434/4 and 438/9). The above match between South Africa and Australia holds this unique and gigantic record.
5: So far, Pakistan, the West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, and Afghanistan haven’t scored 400+ runs in an ODI match. Pakistan missed reaching the mark of 400 by just 1 run as they scored 399/1 (50 overs) against Zimbabwe in 2018.
26: Number of sixes smashed by the England team as they scored 498/4 in 2022. This is the most sixes in an ODI innings by a team.
56: While the Sri Lankan team holds the record of notching up the most fours (56) in an ODI innings in 2006. Coincidentally, the Netherlands was on the receiving end of these 2 records on both occasions.
