Top 10 highest team totals in ODI cricket: England's 498-run record still stands

ODI cricket has produced some breathtaking batting performances over the years, especially with several changes to the rules as the batters continue to put the bowlers under pressure. However, only a few teams have managed to push the boundaries of what’s considered possible in a 50-over innings like England did to many oppositions.

From the fearless intent of the batters to the relentless power-hitting, these record-breaking batting displays have written a new way of the 50-over format being played. The biggest milestone of all came in 2018 when the Eoin Morgan-led side smashed 498/4 against the Netherlands. 

For teams to record the highest team scores in ODI cricket, the openers need to offer a destructive start with the middle and lower order continuing the onslaught throughout the rest of the innings. From the dominance of Australia and India’s batting masterclasses to England’s white-ball revolution, the list gets changed.

Top 10 highest team totals in ODI cricket

For teams to get their names in the list of the highest team totals in ODI cricket, the opposition’s bowling performance on that day, along with the batting department, pitch conditions, and weather, also play a strong role.

Here are the top 10 highest team totals in the ODI format of the game-

#10 South Africa’s 428/5 vs Sri Lanka in Delhi ODI World Cup 2023-

It was the contest between South Africa and Sri Lanka during the ODI World Cup 2023 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The Proteas batted first and posted a massive score of 428 runs for the loss of five wickets in their allotted 50 overs. The three batters, Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram, celebrated their respective centuries. 

In reply, Sri Lanka also showed aggression in their batting show but were bundled out for 326 runs off 44.5 overs. It wasn’t enough, though, to save the Dasun Shanaka-led side from the 102-run defeat.

Brief Scores: South Africa 428/5 (Rassie van der Dussen 108, Aiden Markram 106, Dilshan Madushanka 2/86) beat Sri Lanka 326 (Charith Asalanka 79, Gerald Coetzee 3/68) by 102 runs.

#9 Australia’s 431/2 vs South Africa in Mackay, 2025-

During the third ODI clash between Australia and South Africa in Mackay, the home side posted a massive score of 431 runs for the loss of two wickets in their allotted 50 overs. Travis Head drilled 142 runs while their captain, Mitchell Marsh, and Cameron Green clubbed their respective centuries.

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The Proteas, meanwhile, couldn’t get over the harassment of the bowling performance and were bundled out for 155 runs. Dewald Brevis was the leading run-getter with 49 runs off 28 balls, with Cooper Connolly bowling a fine spell and ending with figures of 5/22 in six overs.

Brief Scores: Australia 431/2 (Travis Head 142, Cameron Green 118*, Keshav Maharaj 1/57) beat South Africa 155 (Dewald Brevis 49, Cooper Connolly 5/22) by 276 runs.

#8 Australia’s 434/4 vs South Africa in Johannesburg, 2006-

It was the famous encounter between South Africa and Australia at the Wanderers in Johannesburg in 2006 when Australia nailed a huge score of 434 runs for the loss of four wickets in their allotted 50 overs. The two openers, celebrating their half-centuries, put up a 97-run opening stand.

At number three, the Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, nailed an impressive knock of 164 runs off just 105 balls at a strike rate of 160 with the help of 13 boundaries and nine sixes before Michael Hussey collected 81 runs off just 51 balls. However, the game ended in the home side’s favor with a memorable victory by one wicket.

Brief Scores: South Africa- 438/9 (Herschelle Gibbs 175, Nathan Bracken 5/67) beat Australia 434/4 (Ricky Ponting 164, Roger Telemachus 2/87) by 1 wicket.

#7 South Africa’s 438/4 vs India in Mumbai, 2015-

South Africa and India came into the fifth and final ODI of the series in 2015 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. On the flat surface, the visitors posted 438 runs for the loss of four wickets in their allotted 50 overs, thanks to three centuries from De Kock, captain Ab de Villiers, and Faf du Plessis. 

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In reply, the Indian side were bundled out for just 224 with just two fifties from Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan. Kagiso Rabada picked up four wickets in seven overs at an economy rate of below six. The MS Dhoni-led side, due to the 214-run defeat, lost the series by a 3-2 margin.

Brief Scores: South Africa 438/4 (Faf du Plessis 133*, AB de Villiers 119, Suresh Raina 1/19) beat India 224 (Ajinkya Rahane 87, Shikhar Dhawan 60, Kagiso Rabada 4/41) by 214 runs.

#6 South Africa’s 438/9 vs Australia in Johannesburg, 2006-

In the first innings of the clash at the Wanderers in 2006, Australia put on 434/4 in their 50 overs. In those days, it was 150+ runs more than the par score. But the hosts didn’t lose hope as they completed the record-breaking chase of 438 runs with one wicket in hand.

It was shouldered by a superb knock from their captain, Graeme Smith, who nailed 90 runs off 55 balls with the help of 13 fours and two sixes, while Herschelle Gibbs drilled 175 runs off just 111 balls at a strike rate of 157.65 with the help of 21 boundaries and seven sixes.

Brief Scores: South Africa- 438/9 (Herschelle Gibbs 175, Nathan Bracken 5/67) beat Australia 434/4 (Ricky Ponting 164, Roger Telemachus 2/87) by 1 wicket.

#5 South Africa’s 439/2 vs West Indies in Johannesburg, 2015-

It was another memorable ODI in Johannesburg between South Africa and West Indies in 2015 when the Proteas posted a massive score of 439 runs for the loss of two wickets. It was based on the 247-run opening stand between the two centurions, Hasim Amla’s 153* and Rilee Rossouw’s 128-run knock.

Ab de Villiers, meanwhile, walking out to bat at three, celebrated the fastest century of the 50-over format and was dismissed on 149 runs off just 44 balls with nine boundaries and 16 sixes. A couple of half-centuries in the West Indies’ line-up restricted the visitors to 291/7 as they lost the contest by 148 runs.

Brief Scores: South Africa- 439/2 (Hashim Amla 153, AB de Villiers 149, Andre Russell 1/78) beat West Indies 291/7 (Dwayne Smith 64, Dinesh Ramdin 57, Morne Morkel 2/40) by 148 runs.

#4 Sri Lanka’s 443/9 vs Netherlands in Amstelveen, 2006-

During the first ODI between Sri Lanka and the Netherlands in 2006, the visitors posted a huge score of 443 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted 50 overs. Their opener, Sanath Jayasuriya, smashed an impressive knock of 157 runs at a strike rate of 150, while Tillakaratne Dilshan remained unbeaten on 117 runs off 78 balls.

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The Dutch side, in reply, got bundled out for 248 runs, with Tim de Leede smacking 51 runs off 42 balls as both Dilhara Fernando and Kaushal Lokuarachchi picked up three-wicket hauls in the defense.

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 443/9 (Sanath Jayasuriya 157, Tillakaratne Dilshan 117*, Ryan ten Doeschate 2/51) beat Netherlands 248 (Tim de  Leede 51, Dilhara Fernando 3/39) by 195 runs.

#3 England’s 444/3 vs Pakistan in Trent Bridge, 2016-

It was the third ODI between England and Pakistan at Trent Bridge in 2016 when the hosts recorded the third-highest team score of the format. Their opener, Alex Hales, drilled 171 runs off just 122 balls at a strike rate of 140.16 with the help of 22 boundaries and four sixes while Jos Buttler and Morgan put up a partnership of 161 runs for the fourth wicket off just 12 overs.

Pakistan were shocked at the batting display of the hosts and were rolled over for 275 runs, losing the contest by 169 runs. They had only two fifties from Sharjeel Khan and Mohammad Amir. For England, Chris Woakes finished with 4/41 in 5.4 overs. 

Brief Scores: England 444/3 (Alex Hales 171, Jos Buttler 90*, Hasan Ali 2/74) beat Pakistan 275 (Mohammad Amir 58, Chris Woakes 4/41) by 169 runs.

#2 England’s 481/6 vs Australia at Trent Bridge, 2018-

During the 2018 series at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, England posted the huge score of 481 runs for the loss of six wickets against a depleted Australian side, thanks to the 139-run knock from Jonny Bairstow and 147 runs from Alex Hales. Apart from that, Morgan and Jason Roy also clubbed their respective fifties.

The visitors couldn’t get anywhere near the target and were bundled out for just 239 runs, losing the encounter by 242 runs. Only Head got a fifty in the entire line-up as Adil Rashid ended with figures of 4/47 in 10 overs.

Brief Scores: England 481/6 (Alex Hales 147, Jonny Bairstow 139, Jhye Richardson 3/92) beat Australia 239 (Travis Head 51, Adil Rashid 4/47) by 242 runs.

#1 England’s 498/4 vs Netherlands in Amstelveen, 2022-

In the 2022 series between England and the Netherlands in Amstelveen, the tourists posted a huge score of 498 runs for the loss of four wickets in their 50 overs. After the 222-run second wicket stand between the two centurions, Phil Salt and Dawid Malan, Jos Buttler remained undefeated on 162 runs off just 70 balls at a strike rate of 231.42.

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Netherlands, in the chase, got bundled out for 266 runs in 49.4 overs as Moeen Ali finished with clinical figures of 3/57 while all the other pacers, David Willey, Reece Topley, and Sam Curran, picked up two wickets each to earn the victory by 232 runs.

Brief Scores: England 498/4 (Jos Buttler 162*, Dawid Malan 125, Pieter Seelaar 2/83) beat Netherlands 266 (Scott Edwards 72*, Moeen Ali 3/57) by 232 runs.

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