England created history at The Rose Bowl, Southampton, on September 7, 2025, by defeating South Africa by a massive 342 runs — the biggest margin of victory in ODI cricket history. This remarkable win broke India’s previous record of a 317-run victory over Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram (2023).
Harry Brook’s men dominated from start to finish. Batting first, England posted a mammoth 414/5 powered by centuries from Joe Root (100 off 96) and Jacob Bethell (110 off 82). In reply, South Africa crumbled to 72 all out in 20.5 overs, with Jofra Archer (4/18) and Adil Rashid (3/15) dismantling the batting order.
Top 5 Biggest Victory Margins in ODIs (By Runs)
| Margin | Team | Opposition | Match | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 342 runs | England | South Africa | 3rd ODI | Southampton | 2025 |
| 317 runs | India | Sri Lanka | 3rd ODI | Thiruvananthapuram | 2023 |
| 309 runs | Australia | Netherlands | World Cup | Delhi | 2023 |
| 304 runs | Zimbabwe | USA | ODI Series | Harare | 2023 |
| 302 runs | India | Sri Lanka | World Cup Final | Wankhede | 2023 |
It was a big shock for South African fans as Temba Bavuma led an experienced side boasting firepower with the likes of Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Keshav Maharaj, and Matthew Breetzke. Even though South Africa were ahead 2-0 in the three-match ODI series, this terrible performance stunned their campaign, leaving them with a bizarre record in international ODIs that will be remembered for a long time.
Chasing 414, South Africa skidded to just 72, with the score reading 24/6 during the PowerPlay. This completely ended their hopes of closing the series with a clean sweep. After gaining momentum from back-to-back victories, South Africa had the edge and even experimented with new combinations, but multiple ducks and single-digit scores turned the game into a nightmare. This proves how every day in cricket brings fresh moments where momentum can quickly shift in favour of the team playing better on the day.
England, on the other hand, produced a near-perfect performance before sealing the biggest margin of victory in ODI history. Joe Root (100 off 96 balls) and Jacob Bethell (110 off 82 balls) scored blazing centuries to post a massive 414/5. Jofra Archer bowled brilliantly, taking four wickets in nine overs at just two runs per over, while Adil Rashid cleaned up the tail with three wickets in just 3.5 overs.
See Also:- Asia Cup 2025 Commentators List: English, Hindi & Regional
This was South Africa’s second major collapse in a short period, having suffered a 276-run defeat against Australia just last month in Mackay. For England, this match was historic as they surpassed their previous biggest win in ODIs — a 242-run victory over Australia at Trent Bridge in 2018.
Interestingly, the top five biggest wins in ODI history have all come between 2023 and 2025, showing how modern cricket is producing record-breaking results. While such losses are painful for the defeated side, achieving the biggest margin of victory is always a proud milestone for the winning team.
