Home
The fans who turned up to watch South Africa versus Sri Lanka catch at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi were treated to an IPL style of strokeplay. In the day/night clash, the boundaries flowed non-stop on a batting paradise of a wicket. The batters took more risk as fielders saw the ball sailing over their heads. Records were plundered as Aiden Markram scored the fastest century in the World Cup and South Africa posted the highest-ever total. While Sri Lanka could not get close to the target, their batters put on a show on Saturday evening and helped in creating a massive record in the World Cup.
Follow the Sports Tak channel on WhatsApp
A total of 74 fours and 31 sixes were scored in the runfest in the nation’s capital. It is the most number of boundaries hit in an ODI World Cup match. The previous record was 93 during the West Indies and New Zealand clash in Wellington in World Cup 2015.
Also, the 754 runs scored in the match is the highest match aggregate in an ODI World Cup match. The previous best was during Australia's match against Bangladesh at Trent Bridge, Nottingham in the previous edition of the quadrennial event. A total of 714 runs were scored in the match.
With a 102-run win in their campaign opener, South Africa continued their winning run in the ODI World Cup which the Proteas have maintained since 2007. So far, Sri Lanka have edged past South Africa only once in the 1992 World Cup.
It was the first time three batters have scored a century in an ODI World Cup match. Quinton de Kock (84-ball 100), Rassie van der Dussen (108 off 110 balls), and Aiden Markram (54-ball 106) helped South Africa post 428/5 as Sri Lanka missed the services of Maheesh Theekshana who is yet to recover from an injury he picked up in Asia Cup. Also, the Sri Lankan side did not have the services of pacer Dushmantha Chameera and spin all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga.
Several other feats were achieved as well. In reply, Kusal Mendis went out all guns blazing. He scored 72 runs in the first 10 overs itself, the highest by a non-opener in the first powerplay overs in ODIs. The previous record belonged to Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara who scored 55 runs against South Africa in 2002.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
South Africa post highest-ever total in the 48-year-old history of ODI World Cup
