England beat South Africa by 342 runs in the dead-rubber third ODI at Southampton. This is the biggest margin of victory in the history of the format.
Having already conceded a 0-2 lead in the three-match ODI series, England came back in resounding fashion in the third game, at the Rose Bowl.
Joe Root (100 in 96 balls) and Jacob Bethell (110 in 82) first helped England amass 414-5 after Temba Bavuma won the toss and opted to field. Jofra Archer (4-18), Brydon Carse (2-33), and Adil Rashid (3-13) then took only 20.5 overs to bowl out the tourists for a mere 72.
The 342-run margin is now the biggest margin of victory in men’s ODIs in terms of runs. The previous record used to be India’s 317-run win against Sri Lanka at Thiruvananthapuram in 2023.
A fortnight before the Southampton ODI, Australia had defeated South Africa by 276 runs at Mackay. That win – yet again in the third ODI of a series after South Africa had already taken a 2-0 lead – is now at seventh place.
3rd ODI, England vs South Africa
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Biggest margins of victory in men’s ODIs (by runs)
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 | Score | Margin | Venue | Year |
| England | 414-5 (50) | South Africa | 72 (20.5) | 342 runs | Southampton | 2025 |
| India | 390-5 (50) | Sri Lanka | 73 (22) | 317 runs | Thiruvananthapuram | 2023 |
| Australia | 399-8 (50) | Netherlands | 90 (21) | 309 runs | Delhi | 2023 |
| Zimbabwe | 408-6 (50) | USA | 104 (25.1) | 304 runs | Harare | 2023 |
| India | 357-8 (50) | Sri Lanka | 55 (19.4) | 302 runs | Mumbai | 2023 |
| New Zealand | 402-2 (50) | Ireland | 112 (28.4) | 290 runs | Aberdeen | 2008 |
| Australia | 431-2 (50) | South Africa | 155 (24.5) | 276 runs | Mackay | 2025 |
| Australia | 417-6 (50) | Afghanistan | 142 (37.3) | 275 runs | Perth | 2015 |
| South Africa | 399-6 (50) | Zimbabwe | 127 (29) | 272 runs | Benoni | 2010 |
| South Africa | 301-8 (50) | Sri Lanka | 43 (20.1) | 258 runs | Paarl | 2012 |
- There have been 66 ten-wicket wins in men’s ODIs, which is (obviously) the biggest margin of victory in terms of wickets left.
- In the 60-over 1979 World Cup game at Old Trafford, England bowled out Canada for 45 and took 13.5 overs to chase the target. They had 277 balls in hand, which is the biggest margin in terms of balls left.
- In women’s ODIs, there are four bigger wins than England Men’s 342-run record win. The largest of these (408 runs) came at Christchurch in 1997, when New Zealand amassed 455-5 and bowled out Pakistan for 47.
