First innings totals are imperative in ODI cricket and when we talk about the ICC Cricket World Cup, posting good runs on the board becomes much more important. A score in excess of 300 runs is always difficult to chase and teams touching the 400-run mark have enjoyed success more often than not.
As the game has evolved over the years, the scoring rates have grown significantly and teams sticking to it have proved to be threatening. Here, we will have a look at the highest scores by teams in ODI World Cups. Interestingly, none of the undermentioned teams went on to lose the game after touching the respective first innings totals.
Highest scores by teams in ICC Cricket World Cup history – Top 10 list
| Team | Score | Opponent | Venue | Year |
| South Africa | 428/5 | Sri Lanka | Delhi | 2023 |
| Australia | 417/6 | Afghanistan | Perth | 2015 |
| India | 413/5 | Bermuda | Port of Spain | 2007 |
| South Africa | 411/4 | Ireland | Canberra | 2015 |
| South Africa | 408/5 | West Indies | Sydney | 2015 |
| South Africa | 399/7 | England | Wankhede | 2023 |
| Australia | 399/8 | Netherlands | Delhi | 2023 |
| Sri Lanka | 398/5 | Kenya | Kandy | 1996 |
| England | 397/6 | Afghanistan | Manchester | 2019 |
| New Zealand | 393/6 | West Indies | Wellington | 2015 |
South Africa | 428 runs
The Temba Bavuma-led South African team is on a roll this year. By far, South Africa has been one of the best batting sides in the ICC World Cup 2023. In their tournament opener against Sri Lanka in New Delhi, South Africa broke the old record and mounted a huge first innings total of 428 runs which is by far the highest score in a single World Cup innings. Opener Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram notched up their respective hundreds to take the game away from Sri Lanka’s grasp.
Incidentally, Aiden Markram also broke former Ireland batter Kevin O’Brian’s 12-year-old record for the fastest ODI World Cup hundred, reaching the milestone in just 49 balls. For his knock, Markram was also chosen as the player of the match.
As it was inevitably clear, South Africa earned a thumping win against Sri Lanka after scoring the highest World Cup total. The latter was handed a massive 102-run defeat as it was bundled out for 326 runs in less than 45 overs.
Australia | 417 runs
During their smooth run to glory in 2015, Australia recorded the then-highest ODI World Cup total, posting a towering total of 417 runs against Afghanistan in a league match. Riding on David Warner’s 178-run innings off just 133 balls, Australia achieved the rare feat.
The Australian batters were in sublime form during the 2015 World Cup as they helped the team reach huge scores of 376 runs and 342 runs against Sri Lanka and England respectively. Moreover, the side posted a match-winning total of 328 runs against India in the semi-final to enter another ODI World Cup final and eventually lift its fifth title.
India | 413 runs
India had a bizarre campaign in the 2007 ODI World Cup. The side was knocked out of the tournament before the Super Eights as it suffered disappointing losses against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. However, in the only game they won, they racked up 413 runs against Bermuda after Virender Sehwag hammered 114 runs in 87 balls. The explosive batter smacked 17 fours and three maximums during his knock. Along with him, Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh and Sachin Tendulkar struck impactful fifties for the team.
In the second half of the match, Anil Kumble and Ajit Agarkar bagged three-wicket hauls to bowl Bermuda out for 156 runs.
South Africa | 411 runs
South Africa was one of the most exciting teams during the 2015 World Cup. Though the side missed out on its maiden World Cup final berth, it left a long-lasting impression on every cricket fan with its scintillating batting throughout the tournament. In one of the league matches against Ireland, the Proteas piled up 411 runs in their 50 overs as Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis brought up their respective tons.
The lower middle order gave a much-needed impetus to the innings after the aforementioned batters were dismissed. The duo of David Miller and Rilee Rossouw helped the team to add another 110 runs in less than nine overs in the end. Eventually, South Africa dismissed the Ireland batters for 210 runs to grab a record 201-run victory.
South Africa | 408 runs
As mentioned above, South Africa had a scintillating batting lineup in 2015. The side amassed 408 runs against the West Indies, credit to a batting masterclass by skipper Ab de Villiers. The right-hander smashed 17 fours and eight sixes as he bludgeoned 162 unbeaten runs in just 66 deliveries.
During the course of the innings, de Villiers broke the record for the fastest ODI 150 as he reached the milestone in a mere 64 balls. Subsequently, he was declared the Player of the Match for his mind-boggling innings as South Africa defeated the Caribbean team by 257 runs.
South Africa | 399 runs
Yet again, South Africa feature on this list as they’ve made a habit of registering massive scores at the World Cup. The Proteas have been on a carnage with the bat in 2023, very much like 2015. The side has breached the 350-run mark every time it has batted first in this World Cup, barring a 311-run score against Australia in Lucknow.
During their league match against England in Mumbai, South Africa accumulated 399 runs for the loss of seven wickets. Reeza Hendricks and Rassie van der Dussen stitched a 121-run partnership for the second wicket as both batters brought up their respective half-centuries. However, it was the 151-run partnership between Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen that took the game away from England. Appreciably, Klaasen raced away to his hundred in just 61 balls which is the seventh fastest ODI World Cup ton.
Australia | 399 runs
Australia started their 2023 World Cup campaign on a shaky note as they lost their first couple of matches. However, they made a sensational comeback by winning their next four matches. The batting has been their strength and they displayed the same against the Netherlands in New Delhi. Batting first, Australia put up 399 runs on the board before winning the game by a humongous margin of 309 runs. Notably, it was the biggest win by runs in the ODI World Cup history.
While David Warner notched up another hundred while opening the batting, Glenn Maxwell stole the show with his blistering performance. The right-hander reached the three-figure mark in 40 balls to acquire the record for the fastest ODI World Cup ton.
Sri Lanka | 398 runs
Scoring 300 runs was not a norm way back in 1996, but Sri Lanka pulled off something extraordinary against Kenya. The Lankans posted a mammoth first innings total of 398 runs against Kenya in Kandy. Aravinda de Silva struck 145 runs in just 115 balls including 14 boundaries and five maximums while Asanka Gurusinha and skipper Arjuna Ranatunga smacked half-centuries for the team.
With the ball, Arjuna Ranatunga and Muttiah Muralitharan bagged a couple of wickets. Despite Steve Tikolo’s spirited 96-run innings, Kenya suffered a big 144-run loss.
England | 397 runs
England played against Afghanistan at the Old Trafford in Manchester during the 2019 ODI World Cup where they piled up 397 runs in the first innings. Skipper Eoin Morgan was at the helm with the bat as he tonked 17 maximums in the innings to score 148 runs in 71 balls. Notably, Morgan broke Rohit Sharma and Ab de Villiers’ join record for the most number of sixes by an individual in an innings.
Credit to Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid’s three-fers, Afghanistan were rolled up for 247 runs as England claimed a crucial 150-run victory.
New Zealand | 393 runs
New Zealand’s score of 393 runs against the West Indies still stands as the highest team total in an ODI World Cup knockout game. Riding on Martin Guptill’s 237 runs, New Zealand accumulated 393 runs in the first half of their quarter-final game against the West Indies to eventually win it by 143 runs. Guptill’s score of 237 runs is still the highest individual score in the ODI World Cup history.
Appreciably, left-arm pacer Trent Boult bowled a 10-over spell in the second half and cliched four wickets to stab the West Indian run-chase. Apart from Chris Gayle, who struck 61 runs in just 33 balls including eight maximums, no Caribbean batter looked threatening.
FAQs
What is the highest score in World Cups by a player?
Martin Guptill scored 237 runs against the West Indies which is the highest score by a player in ODI World Cups.
What is the highest score in T20 World Cups?
Sri Lanka’s score of 260 runs against Kenya in the 2007 T20 World Cup is the highest score in T20 World Cups.
What is the highest team score in ODIs?
England scored 498 runs against the Netherlands in 2022 which is the highest team score in ODIs.
