South Africa posted a massive 428-5, the highest total ever in the World Cup, during their opening match of CWC 2023 against Sri Lanka on October 7 in Delhi. Let’s look at the top ten highest totals in the men’s ODI World Cup.

1. South Africa: 428-5 vs Sri Lanka, World Cup 2023

Being asked to bat, South Africa went berserk against Sri Lanka from the word go. Riding upon three centuries from Quinton de Kock (100 off 84), Rassie van der Dussen (108 off 110) and Aiden Markram (106 off 54), they racked up the highest ever World Cup total on October 7. Markram hit the fastest hundred in the event, eclipsing Kevin O’Brien’s 51-ball ton against England in 2011.

2. Australia: 417-6 vs Afghanistan, World Cup 2015

In 2015, Player of the Match David Warner scored 178 in 133 balls with support from Steve Smith (95 in 98). They took Australia from 14-1 to 274-1. The stage was set for Glenn Maxwell to maul Afghanistan with a 39-ball 88. A quickfire 20 from Brad Haddin propelled the home team to the record score.

3. India: 413-5 vs Bermuda, World Cup 2007

The total was among the few positives in India’s group stage exit in 2007. They steamrolled Bermuda to breach the 400-run barrier for the first time at the World Cup. Virender Sehwag scored 114(87), aided by Sourav Ganguly’s 89 (114), to set up a launch pad. Yuvraj Singh and Sachin Tendulkar teed off in the end, scoring 83(46) and 57*(29) respectively.

4. South Africa: 411-4 vs Ireland, World Cup 2015

Hashim Amla piled up 159 in 128 balls, while Faf du Plessis scored 109. South Africa were inching towards 300 when David Miller (46 in 23) and Rilee Rossouw (61 in 30) took Ireland apart and batted until the end of the innings. Besides Australia’s huge total, two other massive scores were recorded in 2015, both architected by South Africa.

5. South Africa: 408-5 vs West Indies, World Cup 2015

No team features on this list three times except South Africa. While the semi-final crash-out against New Zealand was painful to swallow, they brought moments of joy in 2015. En route a humongous 408-5, AB de Villiers scored 162 runs from only 66 balls, with 17 boundaries and eight sixes. Amla (65), Du Plessis (62), and Russouw (61) played supporting roles in the rampage.

6. Sri Lanka: 398-5 vs Kenya, World Cup 1996

Sri Lanka’s total remained the highest in all ODIs for nearly a decade, until scores in excess of 400 became common. Aravinda Silva top scored with 145 from 115 balls against Kenya, while Arjuna Ranatunga made 75 in 40 balls with 13 fours and a six. Sanath Jayasuriya (44), Romesh Kaluwitharana (33) and Asanka Gurusinha (84) made their presence felt with vital contributions.

7. England: 397-6 vs Afghanistan, World Cup 2019

England’s best total in their triumphant 2019 campaign is also the seventh-highest in World Cup history. Eoin Morgan, After Jonny Bairstow (90) and Joe Root (88) fell, Eoin Morgan made a mincemeat of Afghanistan, racking up 148 off 71 balls in the blink of an eye, including an ODI record of 17 sixes.

8. New Zealand: 393-6 vs West Indies, World Cup 2015

West Indies had no answers to a red-hot Martin Guptill in the fourth quarter-final of the 2015 World Cup. Guptill hit 237 in 163 balls to score the lion’s share of New Zealand’s total. He stroked 24 fours and 11 sixes, turning up the heat on his rivals. Trent Boult then claimed 4-44 as the West Indies were bowled out for 250 in 30.3 overs.

9. England: 386-6 vs Bangladesh, World Cup 2019

England find themselves on the illustrated list once again. Jason Roy smashed 153 off 121 balls with 14 fours and five sixes in a group-stage match against Bangladesh. Bairstow chipped in with a 51(50) and Jos Buttler with 64(44), while a Liam Plunkett provided late flourish with a nine-ball-27. In reply, a 121(119) from Shakib Al Hasan wasn’t enough, as Bangladesh lost the match by a massive 106 runs.

10. Australia: 381-5 vs Bangladesh, World Cup 2019

Australia feasted on a struggling Bangladesh attack in one of their group-stage games. Batting first, Warner and skipper Finch put up a 121-run opening partnership. Following the captain’s dismissal, Usman Khawaja contributed with a 72-ball 89. Warner scored 166 off 147 balls. Maxwell ensured Australia finished well by scoring a rapid 32 off 10. Bangladesh lost by 48 runs despite Mushfiqur Rahim’s valiant century.

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