Top 10 Highest Powerplay Scores in ODI Cricket History

England’s record‑breaking 121‑run powerplay against West Indies in 2025, along with New Zealand and Australia’s matching 118‑run blitzes, headline the race for the highest powerplay scores in ODI cricket.

With the field up and the ball brand‑new, openers now swing freely, pick gaps at will and put bowlers under pressure from the very first ball. As a result, 100‑plus power plays, once considered extraordinary, are popping up with surprising regularity.

So let’s take a step back and look at the ten best powerplay scores in ODI history, and break down the stories behind these explosive starts.

Ranking: Top 10 Highest Powerplay Scores

Below is the top top powerplay scores in ODI cricket:

1. England vs West Indies 2025 (121/1)

• Date & venue: 3 June 2025, The Oval, London.

Smith was in incredible touch, blasting 64 from 28 deliveries while Duckett held up the other end with 40. They brought up their fifty stand in no time, less than four overs! By the time the 10th over was done, they were sitting pretty at 121-1.

Smith hammered four fours and six sixes, bringing up his half‑century off just 25 balls. Duckett, the so‑called “quieter opener,” kept pulling fast bowler Alzarri Joseph.

Rutherford (70) and Motie (63) did well to get the West Indies up to 251-9, but England completely blew them away in the chase. They got off to a flyer, hitting 100 in the first eight overs! and wrapped up the win with barely 30 overs played. That’s a comprehensive 3-0 whitewash for the visitors.

Smith’s debut really showed off England’s depth. Even though the match was cut to 40 overs, meaning the powerplay was only eight overs long, they still managed to smash 121 runs in the first 10 overs. That is actually the highest powerplay score in an ODI.

2. Australia vs New Zealand 2023 World Cup (118/0)

• Date & venue: 28 October 2023, HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala.

It was a ruthless display from the Australian openers as they plundered 118 runs in the first 10 overs. The pair smashed ten sixes in a brutal opening stand, with Travis Head blasting a 25-ball fifty and David Warner bringing up his own half-century off just 28 deliveries.

The pair recorded the highest run score in powerplay by any World Cup team. Head’s straight‑driven six off Matt Henry typified the “explosive first ten overs.”

Australia piled up 388 and eventually beat New Zealand by five runs. The record power play provided a cushion as the Kiwis replied with 383/9 in one of the tournament’s most thrilling games.

This match shows how the top powerplay scores in ODI cricket can shape close contests. Moreover, Australia’s record start allowed them to overcome New Zealand’s late surge.

The 118‑run surge is tied for the record powerplay start and underscores why teams chase the highest run score in powerplay to set up games among the biggest powerplay totals.

This performance sits among the highest powerplay scores in ODI cricket and inspires teams to chase this benchmark.

SUGGESTED READ: Highest Run Chase in ODI Cricket: Full List of Top Successful Chases in History

3. New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 2015 (118/0)

• Date & venue: 26 December 2015, University Oval, Dunedin.

Martin Guptill smashed 93* off 30 balls while Brendon McCullum finished on 13*. The overs comparison shows New Zealand were already 116/0 after eight overs and 118/0 after nine.

Guptill got to his fifty off just 17 balls and ended the game by smashing five boundaries in a row. It didn’t take long for the hosts to chase down Sri Lanka’s 117, either. They finished the job in 8.2 overs, basically wiping out the target while the fielding restrictions were still on.

New Zealand won by 10 wickets with 41.4 overs to spare. Because they didn’t bat the full ten overs, this run spree is often labelled a “record powerplay start.”

Guptill’s assault delivered one of the best powerplay starts in ODI cricket. Moreover, this explosive first ten overs emphasised why teams chase the highest runs in the first 10 overs ODI and why such big powerplay totals change matches. 

4. New Zealand vs England 2015 World Cup (116/2)

• Date & venue: 20 February 2015, Basin Reserve, Wellington.

Powerplay heroes: Captain Brendon McCullum hammered 77 off 25 balls (seven fours and eight sixes) and reached fifty in 18 balls. By the end of the tenth over, New Zealand were 116/2.

Notable moments: McCullum’s attack was brutal, taking 22 off one Steven Finn over. He fell in tenth, but it didn’t matter. The game was already gone.

Match result: England collapsed for 123, and New Zealand chased it down in less than 13 overs. They smashed 116 runs in the powerplay alone, which is still one of the highest runs in the first 10 overs of an ODI.

The match underlined New Zealand’s aggressive brand during the 2015 World Cup. Such ODI powerplay milestones contributed to the tournament’s high scoring rates.

With 116 in the opening ten overs, New Zealand added another entry to the record powerplay list and enriched ODI powerplay milestones. In addition, this tally remains one of the highest powerplay scores in ODI cricket.

5. West Indies vs India 2019 (114/0)

• Date & venue: 14 August 2019, Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain.

Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis got the West Indies off to a massive start. Surprisingly, they started with a maiden over, but then went into overdrive to reach 114-0 by the 10-over mark. Gayle led the charge with a brutal 72 off 41 balls, while Lewis chipped in with a brisk 43. That opening spree completely defined the rest of the innings.

According to a match report, 101 runs came off the last six overs of the powerplay, setting “a new high for runs in the first sixty balls for a team batting first in an ODI”.

West Indies put up 240/7 in a rain-shortened match, but Kohli’s 114 not out made sure India chased it down to seal the series. Despite the loss, the Caribbean pair’s start was historic. Their powerplay total remains one of the highest powerplay scores in ODI cricket history.

West Indies’ 114 without loss sits proudly among the biggest powerplay totals and the highest run score in powerplay lists, making it one of the highest powerplay scores in ODI cricket.

6. South Africa vs Sri Lanka 2018 (113/3)

• Date & venue: 8 August 2018, Pallekele International Stadium.

Debutant Reeza Hendricks (who went on to make 102) struck 66 from 52 balls. Alongside Hashim Amla’s 40 off 25, South Africa reached 113/3 at the end of ten overs.

South Africa got off to a flying start chasing a DLS target of 191, but the wheels came off when wickets started tumbling. The real turning point was losing Amla in the 10th over, which completely stalled their momentum.

The Proteas stranded on 187/9 to lose by three runs on DLS. It just goes to show that even a historic start can be wasted. When rain gets involved and wickets keep falling, the early advantage disappears fast.

Aggressive intent has made the Proteas frequent holders of massive opening bursts and record powerplay starts; however, controlling risk remains crucial.

South Africa’s 113-run start ranks in the top 6 highest powerplay scores in ODI cricket and shows that even high totals can end in defeat among the highest powerplay scores in ODI cricket.

7. Australia vs India 2023 (112/0)

• Date & venue: 19 March 2023, Dr Y.S. Rajashekar Reddy ACA‑VDCA Stadium, Visakhapatnam.

Australia absolutely steamrolled the target of 117. Marsh (66*) and Head (51*) didn’t just win; they dismantled the attack. Putting up 112 runs in the opening ten overs, the pair unleashed absolute carnage. The Indian bowlers looked shell-shocked and couldn’t find a way to stop the bleeding.

Marsh went on a six-hitting rampage, powering Australia to 50 in just 4.3 overs. They didn’t slow down, racing past the 100 mark in only 8.5 overs.

The visitors sealed the chase in 11 overs to level the series. Moreover, their record powerplay start emphasised the gulf between the sides on a seaming pitch.

Australia’s 112‑run dash is another example of a first 10 overs run spree and reinforces their reputation for explosive first 10 overs, while adding to the biggest powerplay totals.

8. Australia vs Sri Lanka 2016 (109/3)

• Date & venue: 31 August 2016, Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.

Warner and Finch went hard at the top. Warner, standing in as skipper, hit 55 off 34, while Finch blasted 55 off 25. They hit the 100-run mark in eight overs and finished the mandatory restrictions at 109/3.

Finch reached his half‑century in 18 balls, one of the fastest fifties for Australia. Moreover, wickets fell to Maharoof and Dilshan, but George Bailey’s steady 90 anchored the chase.

After rolling the hosts for 212, Australia reached 217/4 to seal a two-wicket win. The victory was set up by that explosive start, which is still one of the most runs scored in a powerplay ODI on record.

The 109‑run burst adds to the catalogue of best powerplay starts in ODI cricket and illustrates how early dominance sets up victories and contributes to the biggest powerplay totals.

9. New Zealand vs Sri Lanka 2015 (108/0)

• Date & venue: 26 December 2015, Hagley Oval, Christchurch.

Brendon McCullum (55 off 25) and Martin Guptill (79 off 56) put on 108 in the first ten overs. A Guardian report noted that New Zealand’s opening pair “put on 108 in 10 overs and easily accounted for Sri Lanka’s total”.

McCullum smashed his way to a rapid start with six fours and three sixes, eventually falling in the 10th over. Guptill took over from there, controlling the game to keep the hosts moving fast.

After rolling Sri Lanka for 188, the Kiwis cruised to 191/3. They needed only 21 overs to finish the job. That power play performance was the spark that defined the rest of the series.

Scoring 108 in the first ten overs places this effort among the biggest powerplay totals and the highest runs in first 10 overs ODI history, and keeps New Zealand on the list of highest powerplay scores in ODI cricket.

10. England vs Ireland 2023 (107/2)

• Date & venue: 26 September 2023, County Ground, Bristol.

It was a lightning start from Salt (61 off 28) and Jacks (39 off 21). The pair combined to race past 100 in 7.6 overs. By the time the 10-over mark arrived, they had already put 107/2 on the board.

Salt got to his fifty in just 22 balls, hitting three massive sixes along the way. The fun ended quickly after the century stand, though, with Craig Young bowling Jacks to break the partnership.

Match result: England powered to 280/4 in 31 overs before rain forced a no‑result. Likewise, Ben Duckett’s unbeaten 107 highlighted the depth of a second‑string England side.  

Even though the match did not produce a result, their start stands among the top powerplay scores in ODI cricket.

England’s 107‑run charge during the powerplay stands among the top ODI powerplay records and hints at future record powerplay starts, underscoring the quest for the highest powerplay scores in ODI cricket.

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