Top 10 ODI Cricket Greatest Win Record By Runs

image-lm90uvd3Indian players during 2007 World Cup (Twitter)

Sometimes in ODI cricket, victories are not just about winning, they are about winning big. Strong teams throughout history have often showcased their cricketing might by unfurling ruthless all-round display.

Top 10 Biggest Win Margins in ODI history (in terms of runs)

Defeating oppositions with record run margins is not just a testament to their skills, but it also leaves a lasting impact, one which dents the confidence of their victims. Such victories display their sheer prowess and determination, and sends a message to others about how far are they willing to go to inflict extreme pain on their opponents on their day.

Here at OneCricket, we look back at 10 of the greatest win margins in ODIs, in terms of runs, as we relive some of the format’s biggest one-sided performances that captivated fans worldwide.


1. IND vs SL (2023)

image-lm9148teVirat Kohli's 166 set up India's 390-5 (AP)

A ruthless Indian team gave Sri Lanka a 317-run larruping at home in January 2023 to register ODI cricket’s biggest ever win in history. Centuries from Shubman Gill and evergreen Virat Kohli powered India to a colossal 390-5 upfront in Thiruvananthapuram after skipper Rohit Sharma’s decision of batting first.

Later in the evening, mere three Indian bowlers completed the demolition job as Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep skittled out their guests for just 73. To make matters worse for Sri Lanka, they became the first-ever Test playing nation to lose out an ODI contest by a margin exceeding 300 runs.


2. ZIM vs USA (2023)

image-lm913hu4Sean Williams celebrates his century (Twitter)

Mere five months after Sri Lanka’s 317-run annihilation at the hands of India, Zimbabwe came close in toppling the unthinkable by registering only the second 300-plus win margin (304) in ODI history. Batting first at an ICC World Cup 2023 Qualifiers match in Harare, hosts skipper Sean Williams scorched a listless USA attack on the day with a scintillating 101-ball 174. 

Star all-rounders Ryan Burl and Sikandar Raza unleashed sparkling 40s to charge up the Zimbabwean total to 408-6, their all-time best in ODIs. The two also found themselves amongst the wickets, alongside Richard Ngarava, Brad Evans and Luke Jongwe to dust out USA’s response for just 104.


3. NZ vs IRE (2008)

image-lm912pneBrendon McCullum celebrates his ton (Twitter)

New Zealand charted one of the earliest 400-plus total back in 2008 by posting 402-2 against Ireland in Scotland’s Aberdeen. The Irishmen lived to regret their decision to field first as New Zealand openers James Marshall and Brendon McCullum both amassed 160-plus scores upfront. White-ball veteran Ross Taylor piled on the Irish pain in the death overs with his unbeaten 24-ball 59.

Michael Mason and a then-young Tim Southee both claimed three-fers in the run-chase to skittle out Ireland for just 112, thus scripting a 290-run win for the ‘Black Caps’.


4. AUS vs AFG (2015)

image-lm911qntGlenn Maxwell gets innovative in his whirlwind 39-ball 88 (AP)

World Cup 2015 co-hosts Australia undermined tournament debutants Afghanistan throughout their Pool A game in Perth. Opener David Warner blasted 178 and shared a 260-run partnership with Steve Smith (95) after they were invited to bat by Afghan captain Mohammad Nabi.

Later, Glenn Maxwell’s 39-ball 88-run blitz catapulted Australia to 417-6, an all-time World Cup record. Australian pace battery Mitchell Johnson, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc dismantled Afghanistan for just 142, i.e., within 275 runs of the latter’s run-chase task to give their side an emphatic NRR boosting win and a clear path to another title glory that same month. Remarkably, Australia’s imposing 275-run margin remains the biggest win victory margin in a World Cup game.


5. SA vs ZIM (2010)

image-lm9115oaAB de Villiers shapes himself up for a big one (Twitter)

A Graeme Smith-led South African unit routed their continental neighbours Zimbabwe by 272 runs at Benoni’s Willowmoore Park in the concluding match of their three-game ODI rubber. Hapless Zimbabweans unleashed as many as nine bowlers during the South African innings, but none could prevent JP Duminy and AB De Villiers from cracking sparkling hundreds to take their side to 399-6.

Still from their flogging, the visitors perished at 127 inside 29 overs in their run-chase in front of Albie Morkel, Wayne Parnell and Rusty Theron. South Africa ended up taking the match by 272 runs and the series 3-0.


6. SA vs SL (2012)

image-lm910jqkSouth African players celebrate a Sri Lankan wicket (AP)

Hosts South Africa, despite charting 301-8, defeated Sri Lanka at Paarl by 258 runs in the opening ODI of their five-match series in January 2012. After crafty knocks from Hashim Amla, AB De Villiers and Jacques Kallis; Proteas speed demons Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Dale Steyn ripped Sri Lanka to pieces at just 43.

Remarkably, as many as 10 Sri Lankan batters, including heavyweights Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan fell for single digit scores, with Kosala Kulasekara’s mere 19 constituting nearly half of the visitors’ sorry-looking scorecard.


7. IND vs BER (2007)

image-lm9103moVirender Sehwag (Twitter)

Virender Sehwag’s 114, Sourav Ganguly’s 89, Yuvraj Singh’s 46-ball 83 and Sachin Tendulkar’s double-quick 57* paved way for 413-5, India’s first-ever 400-plus total. 

Bermuda number four David Hemp’s 76* served little purpose as his side slumped to 156 in their run-chase to hand India a huge 257-run win in their penultimate Group B World Cup 2007 fixture. Bowlers Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble and Zaheer Khan accounted for eight wickets between them, while batting wizard Tendulkar also added a scalp to his name.


8. SA vs WI (2015)

image-lm90z95jAB de Villiers in full flow against WI in 2015 WC (AP)

South Africa’s 2015 World Cup meeting with West Indies in Sydney is more prominent for AB De Villiers’ 66-ball 162* than the imposing run-difference between the two sides. Villiers, also Proteas’ skipper at the time, shot up his side’s total to 408-5 after sparkling 60s from Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis and Rilee Rossouw.

West Indies got themselves bundled out for just 151 in their tasking run-chase, largely owing to Imran Tahir’s five-fer in the innings.


9. AUS vs NAM (2003) 

image-lm90y6x5Glenn McGrath celebrates his seven-fer in 2003 (Twitter)

A rampaging Australian team in their 2003 World Cup game at Potchefstroom charted 301-6 against Namibia. Matthew Hayden, Andrew Symonds and Darren Lehmann all blasted rapid half-centuries, however, it was Glenn McGrath’s 7-15 that set up the huge Australian win in the match.

Namibia’s response was restricted to just 45 in 14 overs, as McGrath received much assistance from his pace teammates Brett Lee and Andy Bichel to script a 256-run win for Australia.


10. IND vs HK (2008)

image-lm90xmbqMS Dhoni congratulates Suresh Raina (Twitter)

Centuries from MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina and 50s from Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag took India to 374-4 in their opening Asia Cup 2008 match against Hong Kong in Karachi.

Piyush Chawla’s 4-23 proved too much to handle for an inexperienced Hong Kong line-up as Team India sealed the game by 256 runs.