The England cricket team has the record of making the highest score in ODI cricket history after totalling a mammoth 498 runs at the Amstelveen against the Netherlands.
Over the past two decades, the batting prowess of cricket teams has gone to a different level altogether in limited-overs cricket. Scores of 350 plus in ODI cricket has become the norm in the recent years. With shorter boundaries and better quality bats, and the change in rule of using two balls simultaneously from both the ends, the game seems heavily tilted towards the batsmen these days.
Batsmen, on most occasions, have outsmarted bowlers and made them work hard for each wicket. This has resulted in team totals in the 50-over format steadily going up over the years. Here, we take a look at some of the highest team scores in 50-over cricket.
Highest Score in ODI cricket: Top 5 list
| Team | Score | Overs | Inns | Opposition | Ground |
| England | 498/4 | 50 | 1 | v Netherlands | Amstelveen |
| England | 481/6 | 50 | 1 | v Australia | Nottingham |
| England | 444/3 | 50 | 1 | v Pakistan | Nottingham |
| Sri Lanka | 443/9 | 50 | 1 | v Netherlands | Amstelveen |
| South Africa | 439/2 | 50 | 1 | v West Indies | Johannesburg |
498/4 – England vs Netherlands, Amstelveen (June 17, 2022)
England wreaked havoc and took the Netherlands to the sword in the first ODI of their tour of the Dutch nation on June 17, 2022. The hosts won the toss and elected to field first in this game. The Amstelveen has been a happy hunting ground for batters as Sri Lanka had previously notched up a massive total of 443/9 against Netherlands on this same ground way back in 2006.
Even though Netherlands got off to a tremendous start with the dismissal of Jason Roy in the second over, England launched a counter assault for the ages and never looked back. Phil Salt and Dawid Malan both scored centuries before Jos Buttler stole the show.
Buttler remained not out on 162 from just 70 deliveries and batted with an insane strike rate of 231.42. His innings included seven boundaries and 14 sixes! He also found support from Liam Livingstone who added 66 off just 22 balls at a strike rate of 300. Overall, England players smacked 36 fours and 26 sixes in that contest!
They ended up winning the game by 232 runs after bowling out the Netherlands for 266.
481/6 – England vs Australia, Nottingham (June 19, 2018)
The England and Wales Cricket Board restructured its limited-over teams after England’s dismal performance in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. Experienced players like Ian Bell were shown the boot, while an upcoming crop of new generation players were given extended runs in the starting XI. The result was clear, with the team lifting the World Cup in the 2019 edition at Lords.
In the four-year period between 2015 and 2019, England managed to notch up three of the top 10 highest scores in ODI cricket. A year before they would go on to win the finals against New Zealand at Lords, England scored a massive 481 runs at the loss of six wickets against arch-rival Australia. While Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow led from the front with scores of 82 and 139, respectively, Alex Hales hit a destructive 147 runs in just 92 deliveries. Captain Eoin Morgan too joined the action with a fast 67 runs from just 30 deliveries.
While England looked certain to breach the 500-run mark, wickets in the end-overs halted their progress. Morgan’s boys would later go on to win the match by 242 runs.
443/3 – England vs Pakistan, Nottingham (August 30, 2016)
Before 2016, the record for the highest ODI score stood for ten years when Sri Lanka amassed a mammoth 443 against Netherlands. However, on 30 August, 2016 at Trent Bridge, the record was shattered when Eoin Morgan’s side managed to score 443 for the loss of three wickets against a rather-depleted Pakistani attack.
England smashed 59 boundaries in their innings, including 16 sixes. Alex Hales, again, led from the front scoring 171 runs from 122 deliveries — in the process becoming the highest individual run scorer from his side. While Jos Buttler’s 90 not-out took England’s score past the previous record, he was ably assisted by Joe Root and Morgan, who scored 85 and 57 not out, respectively.
In the end, England comfortably defeated Pakistan by 169 runs, who could only score 275 in the rain-truncated match.
443/9 – Sri Lanka vs Netherlands, Amstelveen (July 4, 2006)
With 443 runs for the loss of nine wickets, Sri Lanka set the stage on fire when they managed to score the then-record for the highest ODI score against the Netherlands at Amstelveen. It had just been four months since Australia and South Africa had taken part in the ‘legendary’ 438-434 match at the Wanderers.
Left-handed opener and one of the pioneers of aggressive cricket — Sanath Jayasuriya — started the innings from the Island Nation with a sensational 157 from 104 deliveries. After Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene had provided stability in the middle-overs, Tillakaratne Dilshan blasted his way to remain not out at 117 from just 79 balls.
In the second innings, Sri Lanka managed to keep the associate nation’s progress in check and went on to win the match by a massive 195 runs.
439/2 – South Africa vs West Indies, Johannesburg (January 18, 2015)
It was the dreamy start South Africa had been looking for. Their top three batsman scored tons and they just lost two wickets in their quota of 50 overs. In the process, South Africa went on to score a mammoth 439 runs against West Indies at Wanderers, a ground which has seen high scores in the past.
A century of just 31 deliveries, with 16 sixes, AB de Villiers’ record-shattering innings knocked the sails out of the West Indian bowlers. Openers Hashim Amla (153) and Rilee Rossouw (128) had given the perfect start for South Africa, with the first wicket falling at 247 runs. With less than 70 deliveries left, De Villiers walked out to bat. The rest, as they say, is history. The skipper scored 149 runs from 44 deliveries, packed with 25 boundaries.
West Indies were unable to reproduce the same vein of heroics, ultimately finishing their innings at 291 for seven wickets, a health 148 runs short of their target.
438/4 – South Africa vs India, Mumbai (October 25, 2015)
South Africa won their first-ever bilateral ODI series in India after Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock and AB de Villiers scored tons each to take the team total to 438 runs for the loss of four wickets in Mumbai.
India, sadly, imploded while chasing and could only manage 224 runs in 36 overs as South Africa won the match by 214 runs, and with it the series.
438/9 – South Africa vs Australia, Johannesburg (March 12, 2006)
Australia’s record for the highest team score in ODI cricket (434) lasted less than an innings, as South Africa managed to pip the score to win an improbable match and series at the Wanderers.
In reply to 434/4 by Australia, South Africa scored 438 runs for the loss of nine wickets with two balls remaining in their innings. Captain Ricky Ponting had given his team an unbelievable chance to win the series with an impressive 164 runs from just 104 balls. In reply, however, South Africa got down to business with captain Graeme Smith scoring 90 from 55 balls and then Herschelle Gibbs counter-attacked with 175 runs to bring his team closer to victory. In the end, wicket-keeper Mark Boucher held his nerves and scored the winning runs to end a crazy game of cricket.
Also Read: Which Team Holds the Record for the Highest Run Chase in ODI?
FAQs
What is India’s highest score in ODI?
India’s highest ODI cricket score is 418/5 against West Indies. The Men in Blue had scored this total at the Holkar Stadium, Indore, on December 8, 2011.
What is England’s highest score in ODI cricket?
England’s highest score in ODI cricket is 481/6 against Australia at the Trent Bridge.
What is Pakistan’s highest score in ODI cricket?
Pakistan’s highest score in ODI cricket is 399/1 against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo. The Men in Green scored it on July 20, 2018.
