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England beat South Africa by 32 runs in the 3rd ODI in Southampton on Sunday. (Photo: AP)
Biggest wins in ODI by margin of runs: An in-form South Africa were handed a crushing 342-run loss by a wounded England in the third and final ODI at The Rose Bowl in Southampton on Sunday in a dead-rubber as the host lost the three-match One-Day series 2-1. However, South Africa set an unwanted record for losing an ODI match by the biggest margin of runs.
England, who were coming into the match with two losses in the first two ODIs, had nothing to lose from this game. South Africa, on the other hand, were losing for a 3-0 clean sweep against the hosts. Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma won the toss and asked England to bat. Instered, England got off to a brisk start courtesy of some attacking cricket played by openers Jamie Smith and Ben Duckett. When the first wicket fell in the 9th over, England were already past the 50-mark. When Smith fell after scoring a quick 62 in 48 deliveries, England were 117 in 16.3 overs as the stage was set for a big total.
Cashing in on a good start, the duo of experienced Joe Root and youngster Jacob Bethell continued to attack the South African bowlers and added 182 runs for the third wicket. Bethell scored his maiden century and scored 110 runs off 82 deliveries, while Root got to his 19th ODI ton. It was then time for the former white-ball skipper Jos Buttler to flex his muscle as he raced to his half-century in just 27 balls and helped England get to a big total of 414 in 50 overs.
This was England’s seventh 400-plus total in ODI cricket. In response, South Africa got off to a horrendous start with the top four of their batters sent back by the end of the fifth over. The visitors were then reduced to 18/5 and then 24/6 with Jofra Archer breathing fire as he picked four wickets and was helped by Brydon Carse from the other end, who had picked two wickets by then.
Corbin Bosch and Keshav Maharaj showed some resistance, taking South Africa past their lowest total of 69 in ODIs, but their vigil was soon ended as South Africa folded for 72, their second-lowest total in this format, thus losing the match by 32 runs.
Earlier, India held the record for the biggest win by margin of runs when they beat Sri Lanka by 317 runs in 2023. Australia’s 309-run win over the Netherlands in the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 in Delhi is placed third in this list.
List of biggest wins by margin of runs in ODI
| Team | Opposition | Ground | Year | Target | Margin |
| England | v South Africa | Southampton | 2025 | 415 | 342 runs |
| India | v Sri Lanka | Thiruvananthapuram | 2023 | 391 | 317 runs |
| Australia | v Netherlands | Delhi | 2023 | 400 | 309 runs |
| Zimbabwe | v U.S.A. | Harare | 2023 | 409 | 304 runs |
| India | v Sri Lanka | Wankhede | 2023 | 358 | 302 runs |
| New Zealand | v Ireland | Aberdeen | 2008 | 403 | 290 runs |
| Australia | v South Africa | Mackay | 2025 | 432 | 276 runs |
| Australia | v Afghanistan | W.A.C.A | 2015 | 418 | 275 runs |
| South Africa | v Zimbabwe | Benoni | 2010 | 400 | 272 runs |
| South Africa | v Sri Lanka | Paarl | 2012 | 302 | 258 runs |
| India | v Bermuda | Port of Spain | 2007 | 414 | 257 runs |
| South Africa | v West Indies | Sydney | 2015 | 409 | 257 runs |
| Australia | v Namibia | Potchefstroom | 2003 | 302 | 256 runs |
| India | v Hong Kong | Karachi | 2008 | 375 | 256 runs |
| Pakistan | v Ireland | Dublin (Malahide) | 2016 | 338 | 255 runs |
| Sri Lanka | v India | Sharjah | 2000 | 300 | 245 runs |
| Pakistan | v Zimbabwe | Bulawayo | 2018 | 400 | 244 runs |
| Sri Lanka | v Bermuda | Port of Spain | 2007 | 322 | 243 runs |
| India | v South Africa | Eden Gardens | 2023 | 327 | 243 runs |
| England | v Australia | Nottingham | 2018 | 482 | 242 runs |
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