Cricket fans witnessed history at Southampton as England registered the biggest win in ODI history by runs, defeating South Africa by a massive 342 runs. With this, England dethroned Rohit Sharma’s India, who previously held the record for the largest margin of victory in ODIs (317 runs against Sri Lanka in 2023).
England’s Batting Fireworks
England batted first and posted a mammoth 414 for 5, their highest-ever total against South Africa in ODIs.
The star of the show was Jacob Bethell, who scored a brilliant 110 runs in just his maiden century for England. At just 21 years and 319 days, Bethell became the second-youngest Englishman to score an ODI hundred, only behind the legendary David Gower.
Along with Bethell, England’s batting lineup dominated every South African bowler, piling up runs with ease and creating an impossible chase.
Archer’s Destructive Spell
If England’s batting was breathtaking, their bowling was ruthless. Jofra Archer produced a fiery spell with the new ball, tearing apart South Africa’s top order.
The Proteas collapsed completely, bowled out for just 72 runs in 20.5 overs. This was their second-lowest ODI score ever and their fourth-lowest against England. The innings ended so quickly that it came within one ball of becoming their shortest-ever ODI innings.
South Africa’s Painful Record
This defeat was especially bitter for South Africa. Just two weeks earlier, they had suffered their biggest-ever ODI loss — a 276-run defeat against Australia at Mackay.
Now, within 15 days, they have been handed two of the seven heaviest defeats in ODI history. For a team with such a proud cricketing history, this is a worrying trend.
Largest ODI Wins by Runs (Top 10)
| Winner | Margin | Target | Overs | Opposition | Ground | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 342 | 415 | 20.5 | South Africa | Southampton | 7 Sep 2025 |
| India | 317 | 391 | 22.0 | Sri Lanka | Thiruvananthapuram | 15 Jan 2023 |
| Australia | 309 | 400 | 21.0 | Netherlands | Delhi | 25 Oct 2023 |
| Zimbabwe | 304 | 409 | 25.1 | USA | Harare | 26 Jun 2023 |
| India | 302 | 358 | 19.4 | Sri Lanka | Wankhede | 2 Nov 2023 |
| New Zealand | 290 | 403 | 28.4 | Ireland | Aberdeen | 1 Jul 2008 |
| Australia | 276 | 432 | 24.5 | South Africa | Mackay | 24 Aug 2025 |
| Australia | 275 | 418 | 37.3 | Afghanistan | W.A.C.A. | 4 Mar 2015 |
| South Africa | 272 | 400 | 29.0 | Zimbabwe | Benoni | 22 Oct 2010 |
| South Africa | 258 | 302 | 20.1 | Sri Lanka | Paarl | 11 Jan 2012 |
Final Thoughts
England’s record-breaking 342-run victory will be remembered as one of the most dominant performances in ODI history. From Bethell’s sparkling century to Archer’s unplayable bowling, it was a complete performance that left South Africa shell-shocked.
For the Proteas, back-to-back heavy defeats raise serious questions about their batting depth and ability to handle pressure. For England, this match is proof that they remain one of the most dangerous ODI sides in world cricket.
Cricket history has been rewritten — and England now sit proudly at the top.
Mitchell Starc bids farewell to T20Is to deliver with full force in Tests and the 2027 ODI World Cup. Discover how Australia’s pace legend plans to dominate the future of red-ball and 50-over cricket:
https://krsyara.com/mitchell-starc-retires-from-t20is-to-focus-on-tests-and-2027-odi-world-cup/