England created history on Sunday with the biggest One-Day International (ODI) victory ever recorded, thrashing South Africa by 342 runs in Southampton. The hosts dismissed the visitors for just 72, completing a 3-0 clean sweep in the series and rewriting cricket records with both bat and ball.
England Post Mammoth Total
Batting first, England piled up a massive 414 for 5, their fifth-highest total in ODI history. The innings was anchored by Jacob Bethell, who registered his maiden ODI century with a blistering 110 off 82 deliveries, including 13 boundaries and three sixes. His promotion to number four paid off handsomely after modest recent Test outings.
Joe Root added a flawless 100, further consolidating England’s dominance, while captain Jos Buttler smashed an unbeaten 62 to finish strongly. Opener Jamie Smith also chipped in with 62, ensuring the Proteas faced an uphill battle from the outset.
South Africa’s Batting Collapse
Chasing 415, South Africa crumbled under relentless pressure. Jofra Archer spearheaded the attack with a fiery spell of 4 for 18 from nine overs, removing four of South Africa’s top five. His pace, consistently above 90 mph, proved unplayable under overcast conditions.
The collapse began immediately. Aiden Markram fell in the first over, edging Archer behind, followed by Wiaan Mulder in the next, lofting Brydon Carse straight to Harry Brook. South Africa were reduced to 6 for 3 after Ryan Rickelton and Matthew Breetzke also departed cheaply.
Archer’s final strike came when Tristan Stubbs was caught in the slips by Will Jacks, leaving South Africa reeling. Brydon Carse and Adil Rashid then mopped up the lower order, with Rashid claiming three wickets to seal the rout. Temba Bavuma did not bat due to injury, meaning South Africa’s resistance ended with just nine wickets lost.
A Historic Margin of Victory
The 342-run margin eclipsed India’s 317-run win over Sri Lanka in 2023, setting a new record for the largest ODI victory when batting first. England’s previous best was their 242-run demolition of Australia at Trent Bridge in 2018.
This result also marked South Africa’s second-lowest ODI total, underscoring the scale of their collapse.
What’s Next for Both Teams
With the ODI series wrapped up in emphatic fashion, attention now turns to the upcoming T20 series. South Africa will be desperate to regroup and recover from this humiliating defeat, while England will aim to carry their momentum into the shortest format.
For England, the win highlighted their depth, with Bethell’s breakthrough innings and Archer’s explosive return reaffirming the team’s dominance in white-ball cricket. For South Africa, however, this record defeat will serve as a painful reminder of the gulf that remains against the world’s top sides.
