Most 300 Plus Runs Scores in ODI Cricket by Teams

Most 300+ Scores in ODI by Teams: Scoring 300 runs in a 50-over one-day international (ODI) was once seen as a mammoth total, but it has become relatively commonplace in today’s high-scoring era of cricket. In fact, 300+ totals are now par for the course for the top ODI teams. 

But it wasn’t always this way. 

Most 300-Plus Scores by a Team in ODI Cricket

There was a time when even 250 runs in an ODI inning was considered a good score. How times have changed! The following article compiles a record of ODI Cricket teams that have achieved the most 300+ totals in this format.

Most 300+ Runs In ODI By A Team

Let’s take a look at the evolution of high scoring in ODI cricket and the teams that have scored 300 or more runs the most times in ODI history.

The Origin of the First 300+ Score in ODI Cricket

England was the first team in ODI cricket history to surpass the 300-run barrier when they scored 334/4 against India at Lord’s in London on June 7, 1975, during the first ODI Cricket World Cup.

England scored 300-plus, batted first, and scored England made their highest ever. Coincidentally, later on the same day, New Zealand also crossed 300 for the first time when they compiled 309/5 versus East Africa in Birmingham.

It took a few more years for 300 to become a regular milestone, but once other teams like Australia, Pakistan, and West Indies started breaching it in the late 1970s, there was no looking back.

However, India had to wait until 1996 to register their first ODI total in excess of 300 runs. This came against Pakistan at Sharjah when they made 305/5.

Nowadays, 300 is considered a par score at best by the top teams, with 350+ totals becoming increasingly common.

Top 5 Teams With the Most 300 Plus Totals Score in Cricket ODI History

Over 900 ODI matches have seen a team score 300 or more runs since the first occasion in 1975. But which teams have accomplished this feat the most times?

1. India – 135 times

With their free-flowing batting lineups over the years, it’s no surprise that India tops the list with 135 scores of 300+ in ODIs. 

Some of their batting legends who have contributed to this include Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

India’s highest ODI total score came against Sri Lanka in December 2017 when they posted 414/7 thanks to Rohit Sharma’s record-breaking 264.

2. Australia – 120 times 

Another team renowned for its batting prowess, Australia comes in second with 120 ODI totals of 300 or more runs. 

With dominant batters like Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith, and David Warner over the years, big totals have been a regular occurrence for the Aussies. 

Their highest ODI total is 434/4, made against South Africa in 2006, although this was incredibly chased down by the Proteas as they pulled off the most successful run chase in ODI history.

3. South Africa – 97 times

South Africa’s rise as an ODI powerhouse since their return from isolation in 1991 has seen them amass 97 scores of 300+ runs. 

Knocks by the likes of Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, AB de Villiers, and Hashim Amla have contributed to many huge Proteas totals over the years, including their ODI record of 438/4 against Australia in 2006.

4. Pakistan – 93 times

Pakistan’s reputation for producing top-class batting talent, especially in the ODI format, has enabled them to post 93 totals of 300+ runs over the years.

Batsmen like Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, and Babar Azam have engineered many mammoth totals for Pakistan. Their highest is 399/1, scored against Zimbabwe in 2018.

Teams with the Most 200 Plus Scores in IPL

5. England – 94 times 

Rounding out the top five is England with 94 scores of 300 or more in ODI cricket. 

With the likes of Graham Gooch, Alec Stewart, Marcus Trescothick, Kevin Pietersen, Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, and Ben Stokes over the years, England’s one-day batting has often been their strength.

The Three Lions hold the world record for the highest-ever ODI total of 481/6 posted against Australia in 2018.

Other Notable Teams with Most 300 Plus Runs Scores in ODI Cricket

While the top five teams stand out for their high number of 300+ totals, several other teams have also regularly breached the 300-run mark in ODIs:

TEAMS300+ SCORES IN ODIWONLOSTTIED OR N/RWIN%
INDIA13510527377.78
AUSTRALIA12010217185.00
SOUTH AFRICA97888190.72
PAKISTAN937518080.64
ENGLAND946725271.27
SRI LANKA846419176.19
NEW ZEALAND745715277.02
WEST INDIES603622260.00
ZIMBABWE33267078.79
BANGLADESH28225178.57
IRELAND18117061.11
SCOTLAND1394069.23
NETHERLANDS742157.14
AFGHANISTAN752071.42
U.A.E.541080.00
ASIA XI3300100.00
KENYA3300100.00
NAMIBIA321066.67
U.S.A.321066.67
AFRICA XI20200
OMAN20200
CANADA1100100.00
HONG KONG1100100.00
ICC WORLD XI1100100.00
NEPAL1100100.00
P.N.G.10100

When Did 300 Runs in an ODI Innings Become Commonplace? 

There’s no definitive point when 300 became par for the course, but things really started to change in the early 2000s. 

This period saw a new generation of attacking batsmen adopt more aggressive batting techniques and take greater risks from the outset when one-day batting.

Teams also became fitter, allowing them to convert ones into twos and run hard between the wickets.

Other key factors that enabled teams to more easily surpass 300 include:

– Bigger bats that allow players to hit bigger sixes
– Smaller boundaries at most venues 
– The fielding restrictions of the batting powerplay overs 
– Improved batting pitches and outfields
– The influence of Twenty20 cricket’s explosive batting approach

So while 300+ scores were a rarity prior to 2000, they are now expected routinely from the top teams in ODI cricket.

Conclusion

The evolution of ODI cricket from a more passive approach to the explosive, high-octane batting we see today has made 300+ totals common for the top teams.

Where once 300 was seen as a huge and often match-winning score, it’s now considered merely par on batting-friendly wickets. That’s just how much the landscape of ODI batting has been transformed over the past 20 years. 

However, breaching 300 still requires a strong all-round batting display even for the best teams. Some nations still struggle to reach it consistently.

But for ODI powerhouses like India, Australia, England, and South Africa, 300 is a mark they now expect to pass whenever they bat first in favorable conditions. And 350 is increasingly becoming the new 300 for these elite teams in the high-scoring era of one-day cricket.

When was the first 300+ score in ODI cricket?

The first 300+ score in ODI history was England’s 334/4 against India at Lord’s in London on June 7, 1975 during the first Cricket World Cup.

Which team has the most 300+ totals in ODIs? 

India has scored 300 or more runs the most times in ODI cricket, having surpassed the mark on 135 occasions.

Who has the highest-ever ODI score?

England holds the record for the highest-ever ODI total after scoring 481/6 against Australia in 2018.

Rivcky John

A prominent figure in sports journalism for the last two decades. Cricket Analyst & Writing News, Features, Match Previews/Reviews/Reports, And Opinion Pieces on Cricket. You can connect with him on Facebook also.