10 Highest ODI team totals of 2018

It’s quite obvious that ODI cricket has evolved over the last decade. It also goes without saying that the sudden rise of T20 cricket and the various leagues around the world have given way to a destructive side of cricket.

Before, totals like 250 were often considered good enough, but now teams are constantly under pressure to score 300+ every time they walk out to bat. Fans are the real winners because they get to witness an absolutely brilliant display of batting as teams post these mammoth totals that wouldn’t have been possible many years ago.

That being said, 2018 was one of the best years in cricket, especially in ODIs. Fans were spectators to some of the most breathtaking performances and memorable moments. It was definitely a year for the batsman as teams constantly put on huge totals.

Hence, let’s take a look at the 10 highest ODI team totals of 2018.

#10 342/8 England Vs. Australia at Cardiff, June 16, 2018

It was the second ODI during Australia’s tour of England. Australia had won the toss and opted to field first. Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow walked out to open the innings. The duo put on a quick 63-run partnership before Bairstow was caught-behind in the bowling of Kane Richardson.

But that wicket didn’t stop the flow of runs as Jason Roy elegantly paced his innings and put on 50-run stands with Alex Hales, Joe Root, and Jos Butler to ensure England maintained a good run rate.

Jos Buttler’s arrival at the crease meant that things were about to get heated up. Jason Roy was soon dismissed for 120 runs by Andrew Tye. However, Buttler continued his blistering innings as he finished with an unbeaten 70-ball 91. This helped take England’s total to 342/8 in 50 overs.

In response, Australia put up a tough fight with Shaun Marsh scoring an amazing century but he failed to take the Aussies over the finish line as they fell short of their target by just 38 runs.

Clearly, Jason Roy was adjudged the man of the match for his amazing performance with the bat.

#9 357/4 West Indies Vs. U.A.E. at Harare, March 6, 2018

This took place during the ICC Cricket World Cup qualifier. West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first. Chris Gayle opened the innings along with Evin Lewis and what ensued next was utter destruction. ‘The Universe Boss’ was in sublime form as he hammered the ball to all parts of the ground.

Gayle put on an 88-run partnership with Evin Lewis before Lewis was dismissed. But this still didn’t stop Gayle as he was now accompanied by another destructive batsman in Shimron Hetmyer.

Gayle and Hetmyer put on a century stand before Gayle was dismissed for 123 runs - an innings which comprised of 7 fours and 11 sixes. Hetmyer continued wreaking havoc on his way to a brilliant 93-ball 127. This was soon followed by small cameos from Shai Hope and Jason Holder that ensured West Indies put on a mammoth total of 357/4 in 50 overs.

Surprisingly, U.A.E. put on a valiant fight back. Despite losing a couple of early wickets, Rameez Shahzad held down the fort with a masterful unbeaten 112. There were notable contributions from Shaiman Anwar (64) and Adnan Mufti (45). This helped U.A.E. post a total of 297/6 in their 50 overs.

West Indies won the match by 60 runs and Shimron Hetmyer won the man of the match award for his brilliant performance.

#8 363/7 South Africa Vs. Sri Lanka at Kandy, August 5, 2018

After winning the first two matches of the series, South Africa were all set to seal the series in style. After winning the toss, Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews opted to field first.

Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock walked out to open the innings for South Africa. Amla showed intent right from the start. After the early departure of his opening partner, Amla continued to bat with intent alongside Reeza Hendricks.

Hendricks was an absolute delight to watch and was smashing the ball to all parts of the ground. A couple of quick dismissals (Amla and Faf du Plessis) didn’t slow down the South African batsman as he went on to score a century.

He was accompanied by JP Duminy (92) and David Miller (51) whose cameos in the middle order helped South Africa post a target of 363/7.

While South Africa’s batting display was a treat for cricket fans, Sri Lanka’s batting was the exact opposite. The Lankans failed to get going right from the start. In fact, their most notable batsman was Dhananjaya de Silva who top scored with 84. Sri Lanka was bowled out for 285.

South Africa won the match and the series in style.

#7 364/4 Pakistan Vs. Zimbabwe at Bulawayo, July 22, 2018

Although Zimbabwe is not the strongest of cricketing nations, credit has to be given to Pakistan for the way they played this match. During the 5th ODI of Pakistan’s tour of Zimbabwe, Pakistan won the toss and made the wise decision to bat first.

Pakistan played to their strengths from the very first over of the match. Both their openers Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman got off to aggressive starts and soon piled on a massive 168-run partnership.

After the dismissal of Zaman, Babar Azam soon joined Imam-ul-Haq and two showed no desire to stop the flow of runs. Both of them reached their centuries quickly while Pakistan reached a total of 364/4.

Zimbabwe, on the other hand, did not even try to fight back and decided to play out their 50 overs. They scored 233/4 and lost the match by 131 runs.

#6 365 England Vs. Scotland at Edinburgh, June 10, 2018

This match took place in a one-off ODI between England and Scotland. England won the toss and elected to field first.

Matthew Cross and Kyle Coetzer got Scotland off to a good start followed by notable contributions from MacLeod and Munsey which helped Scotland post a huge total of 371/5 in 50 overs.

Chasing such a big total, England were not going to give up without a fight. Jonny Bairstow was in scintillating form as he scored 105 runs off 59 balls. This was followed by cameos from Alex Hales (52) and Moeen Ali (46). But even a late flourish from Liam Plunkett (47) couldn’t help England chase down the target.

Despite sizable contributions from a few batsmen, wickets at the other end kept tumbling and England was soon all out for 365 runs - just six runs short of their target.

#5 366/6 Sri Lanka Vs. England at Colombo, October 23, 2018

In the 5th ODI between England and Sri Lanka, the hosts won the toss and chose to bat first. Openers Dickwella and Samarawickrama laid the foundation for the innings with a beautiful 137-run partnership before Samarawickrama was dismissed for 54.

Dinesh Chandimal soon accompanied Dickwella at the crease and duo put on another century partnership. Dickwell was dismissed for 95 just falling short of his century. A cameo from Kusal Mendis who came in to bat at number 4 helped Sri Lanka post a total of 366/6 in their 50 overs.

England immediately felt the absence of their in-form opener, Jonny Bairstow. They found themselves struggling early in the innings at 28/4. England never managed to recover as they finished their innings at 132/9 in 26.1 overs (their target was revised to 352 due to D/L method).

Sri Lanka won the match by 219 runs (D/L method) and Niroshan Dickwella was named the man of the match due to his gutsy performance.

#4 371/5 Scotland Vs. England at Edinburgh, June 10, 2018

When you think of highest team totals, you don’t really expect to see Scotland’s name on the list. But that’s exactly what happened during their one-off ODI against England when they were put in to bat.

Openers Matthew Cross and Kyle Coetzer batted well to put on a 103-run partnership. This was soon followed by a beautiful display of batting by MacLeod who top scored for Scotland with 140 runs from 94 balls. His innings comprised of 16 fours and three sixes. He was soon accompanied by Berrington (39) and Munsey (55) who contributed to helping Scotland post a surprisingly huge total of 371/5.

In return, England fought hard till the last ball with contributions from Jonny Bairstow (105 runs from 59 balls), Alex Hales (52 runs from 56 balls), Moeen Ali (46 runs from 33 balls), and Liam Plunkett (47 runs from 45 balls).

However, they couldn’t help England overcome this massive target and they fell short by six runs. Unsurprisingly, MacLeod won the man of the match award for his century.

#3 377/5 India Vs. West Indies at Mumbai, October 29, 2018

During the fourth ODI against West Indies, India won the toss and elected to bat first. India got off to a good start before losing Shikhar Dhawan for 38 runs. This was quickly followed by the wicket of Virat Kohli for 16 runs. Indian found themselves at 101/2.

But this is where the carnage started as Ambati Rayudu walked in to bat. Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu put on a 200-run stand for the third wicket. Rohit Sharma scored 162 runs from 137 balls with 20 fours and 4 sixes.

On the other hand, Rayudu capitalized on his IPL form to score a blistering century off 81 balls before being run out.

A few cameos from Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, and Jadeja helped India reach 377/5 in 50 overs.

In response, West Indies never really put up a fight as they were quickly bowled out for 153 with only Jason Holder crossing the 50-run mark. India won the match by 224 runs.

#2 399/1 Pakistan Vs. Zimbabwe at Bulawayo, July 20, 2018

During the 4th ODI between Pakistan and Zimbabwe, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first. Openers Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman walked out to bat, but no one could’ve anticipated what would happen next.

In a batting display comprising of sheer brilliance, Imam and Fakhar put on a 300-run opening partnership in 41 overs. Though Imam was dismissed for 113, Fakhar was soon accompanied by Asif Ali and the duo continued their destruction of Zimbabwe. Fakhar created history by becoming the first Pakistani player to score a double century in ODIs when he finished unbeaten on 210.

Asif Ali also played a useful cameo of 50 runs from 22 balls. The duo helped Pakistan post a total of 399/1 - their highest ever total in ODIs.

Zimbabwe, on the other hand, never really tried to win the match from the beginning and were soon skittles for 155 runs giving Pakistan an easy win by 244 runs.

#1 481/6 England Vs. Australia at Nottingham, June 19, 2018

Australia won the toss and opted to field first during the 4th ODI between Australia and England. Openers Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow laid the foundation for the innings when they put on a 159-run partnership from just 20 overs.

England’s good start gave their No.3 batsman Alex Hales the opportunity to play with more freedom and that’s exactly what he did. In a partnership consisting of destructive batting, Bairstow and Hales put on another 150-run partnership before Bairstow was dismissed for 139 runs.

The English captain Eoin Morgan followed with a cameo of his own scoring 67 runs from 30 balls. Alex Hales top-scored for England with 147 runs from 92 balls helping England post a total of 481/6 in 50 overs - the highest ever ODI total.

Australia’s batting was the exact opposite of England’s as no one really managed to get a big score. The Aussies were bowled out 239 runs losing the match by 242 runs.

Alex Hales was adjudged the man of the match for impressive performance.