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South Africa were off to a flier at the 2023 World Cup as they cruised to a 102-run win over Sri Lanka in the fourth match of the tournament.
In a match played at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, South Africa piled on a record-breaking 428 for five from their 50 overs before restricting Sri Lanka to 326 in reply.
Aided by centuries from Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram, South Africa always looked like they were on to something special.
Having lost captain Temba Bavuma early in the innings, South Africa recovered through de Kock and van der Dussen as the duo added 204 for the second wicket. It took them a mere 29 overs to do that.
Once de Kock was dismissed, Sri Lanka might have started breathing a sigh of relief only to watch in dismay as Markram creamed their bowlers to the fastest World Cup century. It came off a mere 49 balls and consisted of 14 fours and three sixes.
Aiden Markram broke a 12-year old record to become the fastest-ever century maker in ICC Cricket World Cup history 🎉#CWC23 | #SAvSL pic.twitter.com/EdoIsDyCNL
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) October 7, 2023
The rest of the batsmen propped the score up to over 400, a total never chased down in World Cup cricket.
It was South Africa’s third score of over 400 in ODI World Cups and the highest any team has made against Sri Lanka in any ODI cricket.
While such a score was always going to be bordering on the improbable to score for Sri Lanka, it didn’t help as their opener Pathum Nissanka fell to Marco Jansen for a duck.
Coming in at three, Kusal Mendis smashed the bowling around to get Sri Lanka to 109 for two in the 12th in a knock that included eight sixes – the most by a Sri Lankan batsman in a World Cup.
However, once he had offered a simple catch to keeper Heinrich Klaasen off Kagiso Rabada, the writing was on the wall.
There was some rearguard action from World Cup debutant Charith Asalanka who continued his good form from the Asia Cup but his knock of 79 was never going to be enough.
Later, captain Dasun Shanaka chipped in with a 62-ball 68 while Kasun Rajitha swung his bat around for his 33 before getting bowled out.
India take on Australia in the fifth game of the 2023 World Cup on Sunday, October 8.
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