England established the record of scoring highest ever ODI total so far with 481 for 6 on 19th June 2018. The first One day international was played between England and Australia on 5th January 1971 at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Batting first the scores of 200- 250 was considered safe enough to defend.
The first ever score of 400 plus was made by Australia against South Africa on 12th March 2006. But in modern day cricket, the scores of 300 to 400+ are becoming common with the pitches in One-day international favouring batsmen.
In One-day international Cricket history, South Africa has scored 400+ plus scores 6 times, followed by India with 5 times, 3 times by England, 2 times by Australia and Sri Lanka each, once by New Zealand.
Here we look at the Highest Totals In Men”s ODI Cricket:
1. England 481 against Australia
The England Cricket team broke their own record of highest team total against Pakistan of 444 for 3 and posted the highest ever One day International total of 481 in the 3rd ODI against Australia played at Trent Bridge, Nottingham on 19th June 2018. Australian captain Tim Paine won the toss and invited England to bat first.
England openers Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow gave the team a sensational start by adding 159 runs in 19.3 overs to set up a foundation for a big total. Jason Roy contributed 82 off 61 balls. After that, Jonny Bairstow and Alex Hales added 151 runs for the 2nd wicket. Jonny Bairstow made 139 off 92 balls while Alex Hales scored 147 off 92 balls.
England captain Eoin Morgan scored a quick fire 67 off 30 balls. At the end of 50 overs, England was rejoicing the score of 481 for 6 in 50 overs at a run rate of 9.62 runs per over. Chasing the target of 482, Australian batsmen could rise to the occasion and be bowled out for 239 in 37 overs to give the hosts England their biggest win in ODI cricket by 242 runs.
2. England 444 against Pakistan
England had registered the highest ever One day international total of 444 for 3 against Pakistan on 30th August 2016 in the 3rd One day international played at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.
In that match, England captain Eoin Morgan won the toss and elected to bat first. Jason Roy was dismissed early for 15 runs. Alex Hales and Joe Root smashed the Pakistani bowlers to all parts of the ground adding 248 runs for the 2nd wicket. Hales scored 171 off 122 balls, Joe Root made 85 off 86 balls.
This was followed by the captain Eoin Morgan scoring a quick fire 57 off 27 balls while Jos Buttler hunted the leather and remained not out on 90 off 51 balls. Both of them added 161 runs in just 12 overs to help England post a massive total of 444 for 3 in 50 overs at 8.88 runs per over.
Chasing this target, Pakistani batsmen tried their best but were bowled out for 275 in 42.4 overs. England won the match by 169 runs to win the series.
3. Sri Lanka 443 against Netherlands
On 4th July 2006, Sri Lanka posted 443 for 9 in 50 overs against the Netherlands at Amstelveen. In that match, Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and decided to bat first. It was a great batting effort by the Sri Lanka batsmen with Sanath Jayasuriya scoring 157 off 104 balls, TM Dilshan 117* off 78 balls. Contributions from Kumar Sangakkara 46, Mahela Jayawardene 34 and Maharoof 31 helped Sri Lanka post a massive total of 443 for 9 in 50 overs at 8.86 runs per over.
Chasing the target of 444, Netherlands batsmen could not achieve the target and bowled out for 248 in 48.3 overs. Sri Lanka won the match by a massive 195 runs margin.
4. South Africa 439 against West Indies
It was an amazing day of batting from South Africa on 18th January 2015 against West Indies at the famous Bullring, Johannesburg in the 2nd One-day Internationals.
West Indies captain Jason Holder won the toss and asked South Africa to bat. The openers Hashim Amla and Rilee Rossouw gave a solid foundation for the team by adding 247 runs for the first wicket of 38.3 overs.
Then the AB de Villiers’s show came, as he plundered the West Indies bowlers to all parts of the ground and smashed the fastest century in ODI cricket off 31 balls. The star batsman continued his aggressive approach remaining not out on 149 off 44 balls.
South Africa posted a massive total of 439 for 2 in 50 overs at a run rate of 8.78 runs per over. Chasing 440 to win, West Indies batsmen managed to score 291 for 7 in 50 overs. South Africa won that match by 148 runs.
5. South Africa 438 against India
South Africa showed their batting might by posting 438 for 4 against India in the deciding One-day international match played at Wankedhe Stadium, Mumbai on 25th October 2015.
In that match, AB de Villiers won the toss and decided to bat first. Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock gave a good start adding 33 runs in 4 overs. Quinton de Kock 109 off 87 balls, Faf du Plessis 133 off 115 balls retired hurt, AB de Villiers quick fire 119 off 61 balls were the key contributors who helped South Africa post a massive total of 438 for 4 at a run rate of 8.76 runs per over.
Chasing the target of 439, only Shikhar Dhawan 60, Rahane 87 made good contributions for team India as rest of the batsmen failed. The Men in Blue were bowled out for 224 in 36 overs. South Africa won a historic series in India by 3-2.
Among the other cricket playing nations, India posted 418 for 5 against West Indies on 8th December 2011, Australia 434 for 4 against South Africa on 12th March 2006, and New Zealand 402 for 2 against Ireland on 1st July 2008.