08 October,2023 09:03 AM IST | New Delhi | Santosh Suri
South African Aiden Markram celebrates his century against Sri Lanka at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Saturday. Pic/PTI
South African batters set the World Cup alight with superlative power-hitting against hapless Sri Lanka at the Kotla on Saturday. There were many records set as the Proteas posted a massive 428-5, the highest total attained in World Cup history. After such a lashing, all that the despondent Sri Lankans could do was come as close to the target as possible.
Playing their first ODI game after their disastrous performance in the Asia Cup final, where they were bundled out for 50 by India, this time their bowlers were at the receiving end. Their batters did much better here, but the pressure of chasing a huge target was akin to conquering Mount Everest. In the end, they managed 326 all out and lost the game by 102 runs.
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Rassie van der Dussen. Pic/AFP; (right) Quinton de Kock
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The South African trio of Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram set the Kotla on fire, each hitting a century at breathtaking pace. In fact, Markram produced the quickest hundred in World Cup history, off just 49 balls, after de Kock (100 in 84) and van der Dussen (108 in 110) had raced away to their respective centuries and put on a 204-run partnership for the other batters to take the total past the 400-mark for the third time by South Africa in World Cup.
Till the time Kusal Medis was at the crease, there was some hope for Sri Lanka as he collected a quick 76 from 42 balls, hitting four boundaries and eight sixes. He needed to bat all of 50 overs if Sri Lanka were to come anywhere near the target.
Though Charith Asalanka (79) and Shanaka played good hands, the target was always going to be beyond them.
Brief scores
South Africa 428-5 (van der Dussen 108, A Markram 106, De Kock 100; D Madushanka 2-86) beat Sri Lanka 326 all out (C Asalanka 79, K Mendis 76; G Coetzee 3-68) by 102 runs
