ENG Thrash SA By 342 Runs! Here Are ODI Cricket’s 5 Biggest Win Margins

Aakash Saini

5 biggest ODI wins in history [Source: @ICC/x]5 biggest ODI wins in history [Source: @ICC/x]

England whipped and flogged South Africa by a crushing 342-run margin at The Rose Bowl in Southampton on Sunday, September 7 to avoid a rare 0-3 ODI series defeat at home. Notably, the outcome also marked the biggest win margin in the history of ODI cricket.

Celebrating England’s triumphant world record, here is a look at five of the biggest win margins registered by teams in ODIs.

5. India – 302 runs vs Sri Lanka, 2023

India thrashed Sri Lanka by 302 runs in match number 33 of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium back in November 2023. Batting first, the ‘Men in Blue’ mounted 357-8 from 50 overs, with opening batter Shubman Gill top-scoring in the innings through his run-a-ball 92. Virat Kohli (88 off 94) at number three and Shreyas Iyer at four (82 off 56) also clattered quick 80s after the early loss of opener Rohit Sharma.

In turn, Mohammed Siraj shattered Sri Lanka’s top-order with three early wickets while Mohammed Shami (5-18) mopped up their entire lower-half as Kusal Mendis and co. folded up for just 55 in 19.4 overs.

4. Zimbabwe – 304 runs vs USA, 2023

Zimbabwe flogged USA by 304 runs in the Group A match of the 2023 ICC World Cup Qualifier in Harare. Captain Sean Williams blasted 174 runs from just 101 balls for the ‘Chevrons’, while Sikandar Raza (48 off 27) and Ryan Burl (47 off 16) collectively accrued 95 runs in just 43 deliveries. Opener Joylord Gumbie also made 78 off 103 balls at the top as Zimbabwe charted 408-6 in 50 overs.

Later in the game, Richard Ngarava and Sikandar Raza picked up two wickets each for the hosts to fold up USA for just 104 in 25.1 overs as the Williams-led team secured a comprehensive 304-run victory.

3. Australia – 309 runs vs Netherlands, 2023

Australia obliterated Netherlands by 309 runs in October 2023 at the 2023 World Cup in Delhi to record the biggest-ever win margin in the history of the tournament. David Warner’s 104 from 93 balls, and a whirlwind 44-ball 106 by Glenn Maxwell; coupled with scintillating half-centuries by Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne elevated the Australian total to a colossal 399-8 in 50 overs.

In response, the Dutch folded up for just 90 in 21 overs, with opener Vikramjit Singh’s mere 25 turning out to be the biggest benefactor of the innings. For Australia, Adam Zampa picked up sensational figures of 4-8 while Mitchell Marsh chipped in with two scalps.

2. India – 317 runs vs Sri Lanka, 2023

India decimated Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram back in January 2023 to complete a 3-0 series whitewash over the visitors at home. Shubman Gill compiled 116 runs off 97 balls, while legendary batter Virat Kohli whacked his near career best score of 166* in just 110 balls with 13 boundaries and eight sixes as Team India scaled 390-5 in 50 overs.

Mohammed Siraj picked up four wickets with the ball at an expense of just 32 runs, and he received much assistance from Mohammed Shami (2-20) and Kuldeep Yadav (2-16) to dust out the Sri Lankans for just 73 in 22 overs to secure a 317-run win for the ‘Men in Blue’.

1. England – 342 runs vs South Africa, 2025

Facing South Africa in a dead-rubber third ODI match in September 2027 in Southampton, England batted first and listed 414-5 in 50 overs. A quick 62 from opener Jamie Smith was followed by swift centuries from senior man Joe Root (100 off 96) and young Jacob Bethell (110 off 82). Former captain Jos Buttler also smeared 62* runs in just 32 balls to turbo-charge the English innings in the slog overs.

In response, Jofra Archer shattered South Africa’s ambitions with figures of 4-18. His opening blitz was further backed by Brydon Carse’s double-wicket strike and a three-wicket haul from senior spinner Adil Rashid (3-13) as England folded up the Proteas for just 72 in 20.5 overs to complete a 342-run larruping of the visitors.