South Africa’s tremendous trio Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram scored centuries to post highest ever total in ODI World Cup history to beat Sri Lanka by a massive margin of 102 runs in their campaign opener. Dasun Shanaka-led side put up a fight in patches in the run chase but Markram’s fastest century of World Cup took the game away on a batting paradise of a wicket at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.
Earlier, Shanaka won the toss and opted to bowl first. South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma hit a couple of boundaries but got out lbw to Dilshan Madushanka in the second over. Rassie van der Dussen started off with back-to-back fours. He was the aggressor early on while De Kock picked up pace later on. Van der Dussen reached his half-century from 51 balls. In the 22nd over, the wicketkeeper-batter reached his fifty from 61 balls.
In the 26th over, Dunith Wellalage created pressure with five dot balls and almost got his wicket but Pathum Nissanka dropped his catch. He was batting on 71 then. In the 29th over, Sadeera Samarawickrama missed a runout chance as van der Dussen got another chance. De Kock reached his century with a boundary from 83 balls but the next ball handed an easy catch to Dhananjaya de Silva. His 84-ball 100 included 12 fours and three sixes.
Markram let his intentions known with three consecutive fours against Madushanka in the 34th over. In the next over, Van der Dussen reached his century from 103 balls. In the 38th over, Wellalage got the better of him. He scored 108 runs from 110 balls featuring 13 fours and a couple of sixes. Heinrich Klaasen went ballistic as well hitting Wellalage for two sixes. Markram reached his half-century from 34 balls. In the 43rd over, Markram went after Matheesha Pathirana as he hit three fours and a six.
Klaasen's cameo ended in the 44th over. He scored 32 runs from 20 balls. Markram continued to hit big and in the 46th over he reached his century from just 49 balls, the fastest in ODI World Cup history. In the 48th over, Madushanka got the better of Markram. He scored 106 runs from 54 balls including 14 fours and three sixes. But the fours and sixes did not stop. David Miller hit a couple of sixes whereas Marco Jansen's maximum in the penultimate over helped South Africa break the record for the highest total in ODI World Cup. South Africa ended up posting 428/5. Miller scored 39 runs from 21 balls whereas Jansen contributed with a 7-ball 12.
In the run chase, Nissanka got bowled for a three-ball duck by Jansen. Kusal Mendis would have been dismissed for a golden duck. But Mendis took a review and the decision was reversed. In the fifth over, Mendis smashed three sixes off Lungi Ngidi. He gave similar treatment to Jansen and reached his half-century from just 25 balls while his partner had not scored a single run. Kusal Perera would have been dismissed for a duck but Bavuma misjudged a sitter. But Perera could not do much damage after getting a reprieve. He got bowled in the next over by Jansen. Mendis continued his rampage and smashed Kagiso Rabada for two sixes. After 10 overs, Sri Lanka had 94 runs on the board.
In the 13th over, Rabada ended Mendis' stay at the crease. He scored 76 runs from 42 balls including four fours and eight sixes. In the next over, Gerald Coetzee dismissed Samarawickrama for a 19-ball 23. Dhananjaya could not make an impact and threw his wicket away. Charith Asalanka was dropped when he was nearing his half-century. Shanaka took his time at the start. Asalanka got to his half-century from 46 balls. Just when Asalanka was looking dangerous, Lungi Ngidi got the better of him with a slower ball. He scored 79 runs from 65 balls including eight fours and four sixes. In the next over, Wellalage got out for a golden duck.
In the 37th over, Shanaka broke free and smashed Coetzee for four fours and a six. Shanaka was going all guns blazing. In his last over, Maharaj fired at the stumps and got the wicket. He scored 68 runs from 62 balls including six fours and three sixes. After Shanaka's wicket, Rajitha entertained the crowd with a 31-ball 33 but the target was too big. In the 45th over, Sri Lanka got bowled out for 326 and lost the match by 102 runs.
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