One-Day Internationals is one of the three formats of the game, where two sides play a match of 50 overs. Earlier, ODI cricket used to be a 60-over game, but now it has been uniformly fixed at 50 overs per side. Still, teams are scoring mammoth totals, beating their opponents comprehensively, thanks to the power striking and quick run-scoring. ‘Runs on the board’ is a mantra to success in any format of this game because it is difficult to chase the target under pressure. ODI cricket has seen a lot of records. Today, we will look at some of the biggest wins by a team in terms of runs.
1. New Zealand v/s Ireland- 290 runs
This match was a part of the Associates Tri-Series Tournament played in 2008 in Scotland between New Zealand, Scotland, and Ireland. Ireland won the toss and elected to field first. New Zealand posted a massive score of 402, with Brendon McCullum and James Marshall both registering their career-best score of 166 and 161, respectively. They were also involved in a record-opening partnership of 274 runs. Ross Taylor also chipped in with a quick-fire 59, taking their total to 402-2. The already flattened and depleted Ireland scored 112 runs in their response and bundled out within 30 overs, with Tim Southee and Michael Mason bagging three wickets each, handing Ireland a defeat of 290 runs.
2. Australia v/s Afghanistan- 275 runs
Australia played against Afghanistan in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Perth. Afghanistan won the toss and let Australia to bat first. In the first 25 overs, Australia was 151-1 with David Warner and Steven Smith on the crease. In the next 25 overs, Australia scored 266 runs and finished with a mammoth 417 on the board, which is the highest total in world cup history. David Warner notched up his 4th ODI century. He scored 178 runs and stitched a partnership of 260 runs with Steven Smith. Afghanistan, in response, scored only 142 runs as none of their batters could cross 35. Mitchell Johnson picked up four wickets. Australia registered the biggest win in terms of runs in the world cup.
3. South Africa v/s Zimbabwe- 272 runs
It was the 3rd match of 3 match ODI series between South Africa and Zimbabwe. After winning the toss and batting first, the intent was clear from South Africa as they crossed 50 run mark in the 6th over only. With twin centuries from JP Duminy (129) and AB de Villiers (109) and quick runs from the lower middle order, South Africa propelled to 399 runs. Zimbabwe, in response, was bowled out for 127 runs in 29 overs, conceding a defeat of 272 runs.
4. South Africa v/s Sri Lanka- 258 runs
South African team won the toss & elected to bat at Paarl in the first match of the 5 ODI series. South Africa set a target of 302 runs with the help of Hashim Amla's century (112) and half-centuries from Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers. Defending the total South African bowlers wrapped the Lankan batting line up on just 43 runs. It remains Sri Lanka's lowest total in ODI. SA won the match by 258 runs, giving AB de Villiers a perfect start to his captaincy stint.
5. India v/s Bermuda- 257 runs
This match was a part of the ICC World Cup 2007. India faced a humiliating defeat at the hands of Bangladesh just two days earlier in the tournament. Bermuda invited India to bat first at the Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain. India lost an early wicket, then Sehwag scored a century and stitched a partnership of 202 runs with Saurav Ganguly. India finished strongly at 413/5 with the help of quick-fire half-centuries from Yuvraj (83 off 46 balls) and Sachin (57 off 29 balls). Bermuda could only manage 156 runs and got bowled out without playing their quota of 50 overs.
6. South Africa v/s West Indies- 257 runs
In the 19th match of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, West Indies faced South Africa at Sydney Cricket Ground. AB de Villiers' breathtaking innings of 162 runs of just 66 balls helped South Africa post a gigantic total of 408/5. ABD went berserk and smashed Jason Holder for 64 runs off his last 2-overs. South Africa scored 150 runs in the last 10-overs. After such a demoralizing bowling performance, the West Indies batters could not show up any fight and ended their miserable day with 151/10 in 33.1 overs.
7. Australia v/s Namibia- 256 runs
Australia was playing against Namibia in the ICC World Cup 2003. The Australian captain won the toss & elected to bat, setting a target of 302 runs. Chasing this target, Namibia quickly lost wickets courtesy of Glenn McGrath. McGrath bowled 7-overs in which 4 were whistling maidens, picking up 7-wickets for only 15 runs. Namibia only scored 45 runs. Australia won the match by 256 runs.
8. India v/s Hong Kong- 256 runs
The match was part of the Asia Cup 2008. India won the toss and elected to bat. With the help of twin centuries- MS Dhoni (109*) and Suresh Raina (101), India scored 374/4. In response, Hong Kong got bowled out for 118 in reply. This triumph of 256 runs marked the 25th anniversary of India's World Cup victory (1983).
9. Pakistan v/s Ireland- 255 runs
Pakistan toured Ireland for a 2-match ODI series in 2016. It was the 1st match of the series and was reduced to 47-overs per side due to rain overnight. Ireland won the toss and bowled first under overcast conditions, seeking some assistance from the wicket. But Sharjeel Khan had other plans. He made his intentions clear with a boundary and a six in the very first over of the game. His inning of 152 runs of 86 balls propelled Pakistan to 337/6. Ireland got bundled out for 82 runs in 23.4 overs in their response.
10. Sri Lanka v/s India- 245 runs
It was the Final of the Cola-Cola Champions Trophy 2000 held in Sharjah. Sri Lanka won the toss to bat first. Sanath Jayasuriya opened the innings and slammed his career-best ODI score of 189 off 161 balls. Sri Lanka scored 299/5. India's chase was ‘a lost cause’ as only one batsman managed a double-digit score (Robin Singh- 11 runs). Indian batting order crumbled and bowled out at 54 only. It was the lowest total ever in the history of one-day cricket in Sharjah. Sri Lanka handed India a crushing defeat of 245 runs.
