This article explores the highest boundary-hitting milestones in 50-over cricket, highlighting the teams and individual players who have dominated ODI innings with record-breaking fours.
Most Fours by Teams in an ODI Innings
| Team | 4s | Final Total | Against | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 56 | 443/9 | Netherlands | Amstelveen | 4 Jul 2006 |
| India | 48 | 418/5 | West Indies | Indore | 8 Dec 2011 |
| Australia | 48 | 392/8 | South Africa | Bloemfontein | 9 Sep 2023 |
| India | 47 | 404/5 | Sri Lanka | Eden Gardens | 13 Nov 2014 |
| New Zealand | 46 | 401/6 | Pakistan | Bengaluru | 4 Nov 2023 |
| Scotland | 45 | 371/5 | England | Edinburgh | 10 Jun 2018 |
| South Africa | 45 | 428/5 | Sri Lanka | Delhi | 7 Oct 2023 |
| England | 44 | 391/4 | Bangladesh | Nottingham | 21 Jun 2005 |
| South Africa | 44 | 438/9 | Australia | Johannesburg | 12 Mar 2006 |
| England | 44 | 414/5 | South Africa | Southampton | 7 Sep 2025 |
Key Insights on Maximum Boundaries in ODI Innings
Historical Team Records for Most Fours in an Innings
Sri Lanka hold the record for hitting the most fours among teams in an ODI innings, striking 56 boundaries against the Netherlands in the 2006 Amstelveen ODI.
The 443-run total from that match is the highest for Sri Lanka in ODI cricket and stands as the fourth-highest team total in the format overall.
India have hit the most fours in a home ODI innings, smashing 48 against the West Indies in the 2011 Indore ODI.
Scotland hold the record for the most fours by an associate team in an ODI innings, having scored 45 against England in the 2018 Edinburgh ODI.
India are the only team to score 40 or more fours in 10 or more separate ODI innings.
Record-Breaking Combined Team Performances and Chases
There is only one instance in ODI history where both teams hit 40 or more fours in the same match. Australia scored 43 boundaries in the first innings, while South Africa replied with 44 in the 2006 Johannesburg ODI.
Australia and South Africa added a combined 87 fours in the Johannesburg encounter, the most by both teams in a single ODI.
The Johannesburg match recorded the highest ODI total in a losing cause and the highest successful run chase, as South Africa (438/9) overtook the 435-run target set by Australia (434/4).
Individual Batting Milestones and Unique Boundary Feats
Sri Lanka scored the most fours without hitting a single six in an ODI innings, aggregating 38 boundaries during a score of 285 for 7 against Bangladesh in the 2025 Pallekele ODI.
Rohit Sharma has scored the most fours among batters in an ODI innings, hitting 33 boundaries during his 264-run knock against Sri Lanka in the 2014 Kolkata ODI.
Rohit’s score of 264 remains the highest individual total by a batter in the history of ODI cricket.
England hold the record for the most sixes in an ODI innings, hitting 26 maximums against the Netherlands in the 2022 Amstelveen ODI.
Bonus: Highest Individual Scores in ODIs Without a Six