In a match that rewrote history, England delivered the largest winning margin by runs in men’s One Day International cricket, hammering South Africa by 342 runs in Southampton on September 7, 2025.
Batting first, England piled up a massive total of 414 for 5. The innings was built on two brilliant centuries: Joe Root scored 100 off 96 balls, and 21-year-old Jacob Bethell, marking his maiden professional hundred, smashed 110 off 82 deliveries.They were ably supported by Jamie Smith’s aggressive 62 from 48 balls and Jos Buttler’s explosive unbeaten 62 from just 32 balls that helped push the score past 400.
Then came the carnage. England’s bowlers simply ran through South Africa’s lineup with remarkable efficiency. Jofra Archer spearheaded the attack with a fiery 4 for 18, while Adil Rashid chipped in with 3 for 13. South Africa collapsed to 72 all out in just 20.5 overs, their batting order unable to withstand the relentless pace and spin.
Captain Harry Brook rightly called it “the ultimate performance,” praising the batting dominance and the ruthless efficiency of the bowling unit. Despite South Africa having already secured the series with victories in the first two ODIs, this thumping result ensured England left a dominant final impression and reclaimed pride ahead of the upcoming T20 series.
This victory didn’t just stun—England also smashed the previous record for the biggest ODI win by runs. The previous benchmark was held by India’s 317-run win over Sri Lanka in 2023.
Fans on Reddit were quick to react. One user noted:
“Jacob Bethell looks like a great find and both Root and Buttler are in form,”
while another reflected on England’s revival in ODI cricket:
“You know, maybe England aren’t quite as doomed in ODIs as people like to think.”
In short, the final ODI in Southampton will be remembered as the day England set a new standard in men’s ODI history. With batters firing on all cylinders and bowlers never letting up, this has to go down as one of their finest displays in recent memory.
