New Zealand Highest Score in ODI World Cup History
New Zealand have built one of the most consistent records in ICC ODI Cricket World Cup history, regularly reaching the knockout stages despite never lifting the men’s trophy. Their batting has evolved from the patient accumulation of Glenn Turner in the 1970s to the aggressive approach of Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill and the modern generation led by Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra. New Zealand’s highest team score in ODI World Cup history is 401/6 against Pakistan in Bengaluru in 2023, although Pakistan won the rain-affected match under the DLS method. Their second-highest total is 393/6 against West Indies in the 2015 quarter-final, powered by Martin Guptill’s record 237 not out. Guptill’s innings remains both New Zealand’s highest individual World Cup score and the highest individual score by any batter in men’s ODI World Cup history.
New Zealand Highest Team Scores in ODI World Cup History
New Zealand have crossed 300 in World Cup cricket across several different eras, but most of their largest totals have come since the introduction of more aggressive Powerplay batting.
| Rank | Score | Opponent | Year | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 401/6 | Pakistan | 2023 | Bengaluru | New Zealand lost by 21 runs under DLS |
| 2 | 393/6 | West Indies | 2015 | Wellington | New Zealand won by 143 runs |
| 3 | 383/9 | Australia | 2023 | Dharamsala | New Zealand lost by 5 runs |
| 4 | 363/5 | Canada | 2007 | Gros Islet | New Zealand won by 114 runs |
| 5 | 358/6 | Canada | 2011 | Mumbai | New Zealand won by 97 runs |
| 6 | 331/7 | Kenya | 2007 | Gros Islet | New Zealand won by 148 runs |
| 7 | 331/6 | Sri Lanka | 2015 | Christchurch | New Zealand won by 98 runs |
| 8 | 327 | India | 2023 | Mumbai | New Zealand lost by 70 runs |
| 9 | 322/7 | Netherlands | 2023 | Hyderabad | New Zealand won by 99 runs |
| 10 | 309/5 | East Africa | 1975 | Birmingham | New Zealand won by 181 runs |
The table shows how productive New Zealand’s batting was during the 2023 tournament. Four of their 10 highest World Cup totals came in that edition alone, including their first score above 400.
New Zealand’s 401/6 Against Pakistan in 2023
New Zealand set a new national World Cup batting record when they scored 401/6 against Pakistan at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Pakistan chose to field, and New Zealand immediately took advantage of favorable batting conditions.
Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra gave the innings a strong start before Kane Williamson joined Ravindra and built a major partnership.
Ravindra produced another outstanding performance in his first World Cup, scoring 108 from 94 balls. It was his third century of the tournament.
Williamson, returning from injury, made 95 from 79 deliveries and narrowly missed his own hundred.
Daryl Mitchell, Mark Chapman, Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner then kept the scoring rate high during the final overs. Chapman made 39 from 27 balls, helping New Zealand finish on 401/6.
It was the first 400-plus total in New Zealand’s men’s World Cup history.
Remarkably, it did not result in victory.
Fakhar Zaman smashed an unbeaten 126 from 81 balls for Pakistan, while Babar Azam remained unbeaten on 66. Rain stopped the chase with Pakistan on 200/1 after 25.3 overs.
Pakistan were 21 runs ahead of the DLS par score and won the match.
New Zealand’s 401/6 therefore became one of the highest losing totals in World Cup history.
New Zealand’s 393/6 Against West Indies in 2015
New Zealand’s 393/6 against West Indies in Wellington was their World Cup record for eight years and remains arguably their greatest batting performance in the tournament.
The match was a quarter-final, which added enormous pressure to the occasion.
Martin Guptill dominated the innings.
He carried his bat and finished unbeaten on 237 from 163 deliveries, hitting 24 fours and 11 sixes.
Guptill had reached his first hundred relatively steadily before completely changing pace. He scored his final 120 runs from only 43 balls.
His 237 not out broke Chris Gayle’s recently established World Cup individual record of 215.
New Zealand finished on 393/6.
West Indies attacked during the chase but continued losing wickets. Trent Boult took four wickets as West Indies were bowled out for 250.
New Zealand won by 143 runs and advanced to the semi-final.
The 393/6 also became the highest total in a men’s World Cup knockout match at the time.
New Zealand’s 383/9 Against Australia in 2023
New Zealand’s third-highest World Cup total came during one of the most entertaining matches of the 2023 tournament.
Australia batted first in Dharamsala and scored 388.
Travis Head made 109 from 67 balls, while David Warner contributed 81 from 65 deliveries.
New Zealand therefore needed 389, which would have required one of the biggest successful chases in World Cup history.
Rachin Ravindra gave them a genuine chance.
The young left-hander scored 116 from 89 balls, hitting nine fours and five sixes.
Daryl Mitchell added 54, while Jimmy Neesham produced a dramatic late innings of 58 from 33 balls.
New Zealand entered the final over still capable of completing the chase, but Australia held their nerve.
New Zealand were dismissed for 383 from 49.5 overs and lost by only five runs.
Despite the defeat, 383 remains their third-highest World Cup score and one of the best unsuccessful chases in tournament history.
Highest Individual Scores by New Zealand Batters in ODI World Cups
New Zealand’s World Cup individual batting list stretches from Glenn Turner’s dominance in the inaugural 1975 tournament to major innings from Conway and Mitchell in 2023.
| Rank | Player | Score | Balls | Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Guptill | 237* | 163 | West Indies | 2015 |
| 2 | Glenn Turner | 171* | 201 | East Africa | 1975 |
| 3 | Devon Conway | 152* | 121 | England | 2023 |
| 4 | Kane Williamson | 148 | 154 | West Indies | 2019 |
| 5 | Scott Styris | 141 | 125 | Sri Lanka | 2003 |
| 6 | Stephen Fleming | 134* | 132 | South Africa | 2003 |
| 7 | Daryl Mitchell | 134 | 119 | India | 2023 |
| 8 | Ross Taylor | 131* | 124 | Pakistan | 2011 |
| 9 | Chris Harris | 130 | 124 | Australia | 1996 |
| 10 | Daryl Mitchell | 130 | 127 | India | 2023 |
New Zealand are unusual in having several of their greatest individual World Cup innings come in knockout matches. Guptill’s 237 was in a quarter-final, while Mitchell’s 134 came in the 2023 semi-final.
Martin Guptill – 237* vs West Indies
Martin Guptill holds the record for the highest individual score in men’s ODI World Cup history.
He made 237 not out from 163 balls against West Indies in the 2015 quarter-final in Wellington.
The innings began steadily. Guptill reached his century from 111 balls before accelerating at an extraordinary rate.
He passed 150 from 134 deliveries and reached his double century from 152.
By the end, Guptill had struck 24 fours and 11 sixes.
His unbeaten 237 helped New Zealand reach 393/6 and win by 143 runs.
Guptill’s innings remains one of the greatest knockout performances in World Cup history and the only double century scored in a men’s World Cup knockout match.
Glenn Turner – 171* vs East Africa
Before Guptill rewrote the record books, Glenn Turner held New Zealand’s World Cup individual record for four decades.
Turner scored an unbeaten 171 against East Africa at Edgbaston during the inaugural World Cup in 1975.
ODI batting was very different at the time. Matches lasted 60 overs per side, scoring rates were much lower and attacking options were more limited than in modern cricket.
Turner faced 201 balls and hit 16 fours and two sixes.
He batted through the innings and helped New Zealand reach 309/5.
East Africa finished on 128/8 from their 60 overs, giving New Zealand a 181-run victory.
Turner’s 171 not out remained the highest World Cup score by a New Zealand batter until Guptill passed it in 2015.
Devon Conway – 152* vs England
Devon Conway produced New Zealand’s third-highest individual World Cup score in the opening match of the 2023 tournament against defending champions England.
England scored 282/9 in Ahmedabad.
New Zealand then lost Will Young to the first ball he faced, but England’s hopes of putting pressure on the chase disappeared quickly.
Conway joined Rachin Ravindra and dominated the attack.
He finished unbeaten on 152 from 121 balls, hitting 19 fours and three sixes.
Ravindra made an unbeaten 123 from 96 balls.
Together, they added 273 without further loss as New Zealand reached 283/1 in only 36.2 overs.
The nine-wicket victory was an emphatic start to the tournament and provided a measure of revenge for New Zealand’s painful defeat against England in the 2019 World Cup final.
New Zealand’s Batting in the 2015 World Cup
The 2015 tournament remains one of the most important campaigns in New Zealand cricket history.
Playing most of their matches at home, New Zealand won every match on their way to the final.
Their batting philosophy reflected captain Brendon McCullum’s aggressive leadership.
McCullum attacked the new ball from the first over. Against England in Wellington, he smashed 77 from only 25 balls and reached fifty from 18 deliveries, still the fastest half-century in men’s ODI World Cup history.
New Zealand also scored 331/6 against Sri Lanka in the opening match, with McCullum making 65 and Corey Anderson 75.
Martin Guptill became the central batting figure later in the tournament.
He scored 105 against Bangladesh before producing his record 237 not out against West Indies in the quarter-final.
In the semi-final against South Africa at Eden Park, New Zealand chased a revised target of 298.
McCullum gave them another flying start with 59 from 26 balls. Grant Elliott then played the innings of his career.
Elliott finished unbeaten on 84 and hit Dale Steyn for six from the penultimate ball to send New Zealand into their first World Cup final.
The final against Australia in Melbourne was a different story.
McCullum was bowled for a duck in the first over, and New Zealand were eventually dismissed for 183.
Grant Elliott top-scored with 83.
Australia chased the target for the loss of three wickets, ending New Zealand’s unbeaten campaign one match short of the title.
New Zealand’s Batting in the 2019 World Cup
Four years later, New Zealand reached another World Cup final.
Their 2019 batting relied much more heavily on Kane Williamson.
Williamson scored 578 runs during the tournament and was named Player of the Tournament.
His unbeaten 106 against South Africa was one of New Zealand’s most important group-stage innings.
He then scored 148 against West Indies at Old Trafford, which remains one of the country’s highest individual World Cup scores.
New Zealand’s route to the semi-final became difficult after late group-stage defeats, but they qualified on net run rate.
In the semi-final against India, New Zealand made only 239/8.
Williamson scored 67 and Ross Taylor made 74. The total appeared below par, but New Zealand’s bowlers reduced India to 5/3 and eventually secured an 18-run victory.
The final against England at Lord’s became one of the most dramatic matches in cricket history.
New Zealand scored 241/8, with Henry Nicholls making 55 and Tom Latham 47.
England were also dismissed for 241.
Both teams then scored 15 in the Super Over. Under the tournament rules in use at the time, England won because they had scored more boundaries across the match.
New Zealand therefore finished runners-up for a second consecutive World Cup despite the final ending level.
New Zealand’s Lowest Totals in ODI World Cup History
New Zealand’s World Cup record also includes several difficult batting collapses.
Their lowest completed total is 112 against Australia at Gqeberha, then known as Port Elizabeth, during the 2003 tournament.
Shane Bond had earlier taken 6/23 to restrict Australia to 208/9, giving New Zealand an excellent opportunity.
Australia’s bowlers responded even more strongly.
Brett Lee took five wickets as New Zealand were dismissed for 112 and lost by 96 runs.
| Rank | Score | Opponent | Year | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 112 | Australia | 2003 | Gqeberha |
| 2 | 133 | Australia | 2007 | St George’s |
| 3 | 146 | India | 2003 | Centurion |
| 4 | 153 | Sri Lanka | 2011 | Mumbai |
| 5 | 156 | West Indies | 1999 | Southampton |
| 6 | 158 | West Indies | 1975 | The Oval |
New Zealand’s 133 against Australia in the 2007 semi-final was particularly costly because it ended another strong World Cup campaign.
The 153 against Sri Lanka in 2011 also came in a semi-final, showing how often New Zealand’s toughest batting performances have occurred under knockout pressure.
How New Zealand’s World Cup Batting Has Evolved
New Zealand’s World Cup batting has changed enormously since 1975.
Glenn Turner’s approach was based on patience, concentration and batting deep into a 60-over innings.
Later generations added greater aggression through players such as Nathan Astle, Chris Cairns, Stephen Fleming and Scott Styris.
The biggest shift came with McCullum’s captaincy.
New Zealand began attacking the Powerplay aggressively rather than simply trying to survive it. Guptill provided another boundary-hitting threat at the top of the order.
The current generation has continued that development.
Conway combines traditional opening technique with a high scoring rate. Ravindra can attack spin and pace, while Mitchell has become particularly effective in the middle overs.
New Zealand’s 401/6, 383/9, 327 and 322/7 during the 2023 tournament show how far their batting ceiling has risen.
Conclusion
New Zealand’s highest score in ODI World Cup history is 401/6 against Pakistan in Bengaluru during the 2023 tournament. Rachin Ravindra scored 108 and Kane Williamson made 95, although Pakistan eventually won the rain-affected match under the DLS method.
New Zealand’s second-highest total is 393/6 against West Indies in the 2015 quarter-final, while their 383/9 against Australia in 2023 ranks third.
Martin Guptill holds New Zealand’s individual World Cup record with 237 not out against West Indies. It is also the highest individual score by any batter in men’s ODI World Cup history.
New Zealand’s strongest campaigns came in 2015 and 2019, when they reached consecutive finals. They lost to Australia in Melbourne in 2015 and suffered an even more painful defeat against England after a tied match and tied Super Over in 2019.
Despite never winning the men’s ODI World Cup, New Zealand’s combination of consistency, aggressive batting and memorable individual performances has given them one of the tournament’s richest histories.
FAQs
What is New Zealand’s highest score in ODI World Cup history?
New Zealand’s highest World Cup total is 401/6 against Pakistan in Bengaluru during the 2023 tournament.
Who has the highest individual World Cup score for New Zealand?
Martin Guptill holds the record with an unbeaten 237 against West Indies in the 2015 World Cup quarter-final.
What is New Zealand’s second-highest World Cup total?
New Zealand’s second-highest total is 393/6 against West Indies in Wellington during the 2015 World Cup.
What is New Zealand’s lowest total in ODI World Cup history?
New Zealand’s lowest completed World Cup total is 112 against Australia at Gqeberha during the 2003 tournament.
Has New Zealand ever reached an ODI World Cup final?
Yes. New Zealand reached consecutive men’s ODI World Cup finals in 2015 and 2019, losing to Australia in 2015 and England after a tied final and Super Over in 2019.
### What is the highest score by any batter in ODI World Cup history?
Martin Guptill’s unbeaten 237 for New Zealand against West Indies in 2015 remains the highest individual score in men’s ODI World Cup history.
Rivcky John
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