Top 5 Highest total in history of ODI World Cup

Smashing a big total in an ODI World Cup match is something that every team looks to achieve and it has happened on very rare occasions when a few of the teams scored a massive total in the ODI World Cup. Since the arrival of the T20I format, the pace of ODI cricket has also changed rapidly with time and it has been seen that a total of 400+ runs in an ODI World Cup match has been scored by a few big teams in the history of the tournament.

However, it has happened on very rare occasions when teams scored 400+ runs in one innings of an ODI World Cup match. Meanwhile, we have seen this now in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 in South Africa smashed 428 runs for the loss of 5 wickets against Sri Lanka in the 4^th match of the tournament.

With said that, here we’ll have a look at the five highest totals scored by the teams in the history of the ODI World Cup.

South Africa (408/5) vs West Indies, ODI World Cup 2015

South Africa and West Indies were locking horns in the 19^th match of the ODI World Cup 2015 at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney. The Proteas skipper AB de Villiers won the toss and decided to bat first. However, they faced an early blow after losing Quinton de Kock only on the team’s score of 18 runs.

But then happened run-fest from the Proteas batters started from a 127-run partnership for the second wicket between Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis. Following this, skipper AB de Villiers came in the middle and broke all the records as he played an unbelievable unbeaten knock of 162 runs off just 66 balls, guiding South Africa to a massive total of 408 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in the allotted 50 overs.

Eventually, South Africa won this match comfortably by a huge margin of 257 runs after bundling out West Indies only on the score of 151 runs in the second innings.

South Africa (411/4) vs Ireland, ODI World Cup 2015

Just four days after their heroics against West Indies in the ODI World Cup 2015, South Africa were playing against Ireland in a Pool B match of the tournament. Once again, the flip of the coin ended up falling in the favour of the Proteas and they decided to bat first. Batting first, then-veteran opener Hashim Amla scored an amazing century, playing a big knock of 159 runs, hitting 16 fours and 4 sixes. 

Other than him, Faf du Plessis also scored 109 runs, with 10 fours and a six with the willow. On the back of these knocks followed by Rilee Rossouw’s 61 runs off just 30 balls, including 6 fours and 3 sixes, South Africa posted a huge total of 411 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in the first innings against Ireland.

In the second innings, the South African bowling lineup bundled out Ireland only on the score of 210 runs and won the match by 201 runs. This total ranks in the fourth spot in the list of highest totals in the history of the ODI World Cup.

India (413/5) vs Bermuda, ODI World Cup 2007

16 years back in the year 2007, the ODI World Cup came up with some harsh memories for Indian cricket and Team India as well as they were knocked out of the tournament from the group stage. But it was also an edition of the World Cup in which India made a brilliant record with the bat in the 12^th match of the tournament against Bermuda.

Both teams were playing this match at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, India managed to post a mammoth total of 413 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in the first innings courtesy of Virender Sehwag’s century (114 runs off just 87 balls), alongside the half-centuries from Sourav Ganguly (89 runs) and Yuvraj Singh (83 runs).

Later in the second innings, Indian bowlers managed to pack up the Bermuda batting lineup on the score of 156 runs and won the match by 257 runs. This score posted by India is the third-highest total in an innings of a match in the ODI World Cup history.

Australia (417/6) vs Afghanistan, ODI World Cup 2015

The hosts, Australia were taking on Afghanistan in the 26^th match of the ODI World Cup 2023 at the WACA Ground in Perth. The surface that was famously known for a friendly environment for the seamers witnessed a run-fest in this match between Australia and Afghanistan. The Afghan skipper Mohammad Nabi won the toss and asked the hosts to bat first.

Batting first, the Aussies went on to score an unbelievable score of 417 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in the allotted 50 overs. Star opener David Warner played a sensational knock of 178 runs off just 133 balls, hitting 19 fours and 5 sixes. Other than him, Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell also played the brilliant knocks of 95 and 88 runs, respectively.

While defending the target, Michael Clarke’s men managed to get all Afghanistan batters on the score of 142 runs and won the match by a historic margin of 275 runs.

South Africa (428/5) vs Sri Lanka, ODI World Cup 2023

The highest-ever total in one innings of an ODI World Cup has been scored in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 and the feat has been achieved by none other than the mighty South African batters. The Islanders’ skipper Dasun Shanaka won the toss and asked the Proteas to bat first. Batting first, three South African batters, Quinton de Kock (100 runs), Aiden Markram (106 runs), and Rassie Van der Dussen (108 runs) scored brilliant centuries for their side. 

On the back of three magnificent centuries complimented by a quick finish from David Miller, the Proteas posted a total of 428 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in the allotted 50 overs. Other than this, the star South African batter Aiden Markram also became the batter to score the fastest-ever century in the history of the ODI World Cup in just 49 balls, surpassing Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien who scored a century in 50 balls against England during ODI World Cup 2011.