Top 10 Highest Innings Totals While Chasing in ODI History
Chasing a big total in One Day Internationals (ODIs) is one of the most challenging tasks in cricket. Over the years, several teams have displayed remarkable batting performances while pursuing massive scores. Here’s a look at the ten highest innings totals by teams while batting second in ODIs, regardless of the result.
1. South Africa – 438/9 vs Australia (Johannesburg, 2006) – Won
Arguably the greatest ODI match ever, South Africa pulled off a miraculous chase of 434 against Australia in Johannesburg. Herschelle Gibbs’ incredible 175 and Mark Boucher’s composed 50* helped the Proteas seal victory with just one ball to spare, making this the highest successful run chase in ODI history.
2. Sri Lanka – 411/8 vs India (Rajkot, 2009) – Lost
Sri Lanka came agonizingly close to pulling off a massive chase of 414 against India in Rajkot. Tillakaratne Dilshan’s 160 off 124 balls kept them in the hunt, but despite a strong effort, they fell short by just three runs.
3. West Indies – 389 vs England (St George’s, 2019) – Lost
West Indies produced a stunning batting display in their pursuit of 419 against England. Chris Gayle smashed 162 off 97 balls, but the Windies ultimately fell 29 runs short in their chase.
4. New Zealand – 383/9 vs Australia (Dharamsala, 2023) – Lost
New Zealand showed great resilience in their chase of 389 against Australia during the 2023 ODI World Cup. Rachin Ravindra’s 116 gave them hope, but they ended up 5 runs short in an epic thriller.
5. Netherlands – 374/9 vs West Indies (Harare, 2023) – Tied
One of the most surprising high-scoring chases in ODI history, the Netherlands matched West Indies’ 374 in a thrilling contest. Teja Nidamanuru’s century powered the Dutch side to a famous tie in the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers.
6. South Africa – 372/6 vs Australia (Durban, 2016) – Won
South Africa once again showcased their chasing ability against Australia, successfully overhauling 372 in Durban. David Miller’s unbeaten 118* guided them to another famous win with four balls remaining.
7. England – 366/8 vs India (Cuttack, 2017) – Lost
England put up a strong fight while chasing India’s 381 in Cuttack. Despite Eoin Morgan’s century, they fell short by 15 runs in a high-scoring encounter.
8. England – 365/9 vs New Zealand (The Oval, 2015) – Lost
England fought valiantly while chasing 399 against New Zealand. A strong batting performance kept them in contention, but they ultimately fell 34 runs short.
9. England – 365 vs Scotland (Edinburgh, 2018) – Lost
In a shocking result, England failed to chase down Scotland’s 371 in Edinburgh. Despite Jonny Bairstow’s blistering 105, they fell six runs short in a historic win for Scotland.
10. England – 364/4 vs West Indies (Bridgetown, 2019) – Won
England’s deep batting lineup successfully chased 361 against West Indies in Bridgetown. Jason Roy’s 123 and Joe Root’s unbeaten 102* led them to a comfortable six-wicket win.
Conclusion
These matches highlight how ODI cricket has evolved, with teams fearlessly chasing massive scores. While some of these chases ended in remarkable victories, others saw heartbreaks despite heroic batting efforts. With modern power-hitting and fearless approaches, the record books may see even bigger totals chased down in the future!