Top 5 highest totals in ODI World Cup history
South Africa has been on a run-scoring spree in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023. The proteas have scored 390+ totals more than twice already in four matches in the tournament so far. Against the world champions England, South Africa recently scored 399 runs, which is a sensational feat. In the first match of the tournament, South Africa registered the highest score in the history of the tournament.
South Africa dominates the list of highest team totals in the ODI World Cup. Out of the top 6 highest team totals in the history of the tournament, 4 of them belong to South Africa. In the match against England, South Africa registered the sixth-highest score in the history of the tournament. With a lot of games yet to go in the ODI World Cup 2023, we might see more records being broken!
The pitches in India for the tournament have mostly been flat. Many conditions like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Pune have been good for batting. Kolkata is yet to host its first match in the tournament. The batters love batting in India, where most of the stadiums have small boundaries. Here are the top 5 highest scores in the history of the tournament.
5. 408 from South Africa against West Indies, 2015
It was one of the most exceptional batting shows by a team in the history of the World Cup, particularly from Ab De Villiers. The right-handed batter broke many records in the process, including the fastest 150 in the history of the ODIs. South Africa ended up scoring 408 runs in their 50 overs. De Villiers’ masterclass was fun to watch. As expected, South Africa won the match comfortably and qualified for the semifinal of the tournament.
4. 411 from South Africa against Ireland, 2015
Many highest totals in the history of the World Cup are registered from the 2015 edition. South Africa scored their then-highest score in the World Cup against Ireland. On a good batting surface, South Africa hammered Ireland for 411 runs. In reply, Ireland could do nothing much against the South African attack. One of those instances where a high total meant loss even before the start of the second innings.
3. 413 from India against Bermuda, 2007
It was the first instance of a team scoring more than 400 runs in an innings in the history of the ODI World Cup. It remained the record for the next 8 years, till South Africa came up with their records. To think that India went on to be knocked out from the tournament by losing to Sri Lanka, and more importantly to Bangladesh, after registering the highest ever World Cup score shows that anything can happen in cricket!
2. 417 from Australia against Afghanistan, 2015
It was the first and only instance of Australia scoring 400+ in a game in the ODI World Cup. Against Afghanistan, David Warner and Glenn Maxwell brought their A-game. Warner scored a fabulous ton as an opener. But the star of the show was Glenn Maxwell, who registered the then-second-fastest ton by a batter in the history of the ODI World Cup. Australia defeated Afghanistan by a huge margin after scoring 417 runs on the board.
1. 428 from South Africa against Sri Lanka, 2023
This is the latest instance of South Africa dominating its opponents. On a good batting surface in Arun Jaitley stadium, three batters scored a hundred. Quinton De Kock scored a hundred in 84 balls. Rassie Van Der Dussen was impressive as always and notched up a fantastic ton. But the star of the show was Aiden Markram, who scored the fastest ODI World Cup hundred. As a result, South Africa ended up scoring 428 runs in their 50 overs.
