South Africa batters punished Sri Lankan bowlers to break the record for the highest-ever total in the history of ODI World Cups. Centuries from Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram followed by cameos from Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and Marco Jansen helped South Africa post 428/5 on the board.
The previous record belonged to Australia. The Michael Clarke-led side posted 417/6 against Afghanistan with the help of David Warner's 178 in World Cup 2015 in Perth. Jansen broke Australia's record in style with a six off the final ball of the penultimate over bowled by Rajitha.
The previous highest total in World Cup events on Indian soil belonged to New Zealand who posted 358/6 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai in World Cup 2011. The previous highest total against Sri Lanka in ODI World Cup belonged to Australia as well. Australia posted 376/9 against Sri Lanka in the 2015 World Cup. Also, the previous highest ODI total in Delhi belonged to West Indies. The Caribbean side posted 330/8 against the Netherlands in the 2011 World Cup.
This was the first time three batters scored a century in an innings in a World Cup game. Also, it is the fourth instance of three batters scoring a century in an ODI innings.
Markram went berserk after De Kock and Dussen’s massive partnership. He broke the record for the fastest century in the ODI World Cup. He got to three figures from just 49 balls, breaking Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien’s record by just one delivery.
“We just really try and play the conditions to be honest. Quinny and I batted normally for a large part of the innings. We know what the guys coming in can do. Klaasen, Markram and Miller are some of the best finishers in the world currently. The game's only halfway done. It's a very good outfield here, a very good wicket,” Van der Dussen told the broadcasters during the innings break.
Matheesha Pathirana was the most expensive bowler in the innings. He conceded 95 runs from 10 overs. This is the second-most expensive spell conceded by a Sri Lankan bowler in a World Cup innings.
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