South Africa’s star batsman Aiden Markram scored the fastest century in the history of World Cup cricket in just 49 balls. While Quinton De Kock and Rassie Van der Dussen also played century innings. With its help, South Africa defeated Sri Lanka by 102 runs in its first match of the World Cup on Saturday.
De Kock (100 off 84 balls), Dussen (108 off 110 balls) and Markram (106 off 54 balls) scored centuries. With this, South Africa was successful in breaking Australia’s record of most runs in the World Cup by scoring 428 runs for five wickets. Australia had scored 417 runs for six wickets against Afghanistan in Perth in 2015. Now this has become the highest score of the World Cup.
In response, the Sri Lankan team was out after scoring 326 runs in 44.5 overs. From his side, Kusal Mendis (76 runs on 42 balls), Charit Asalanka (79 runs on 65 balls) and captain Dasun Shanaka (68 runs on 62 balls) scored half-centuries. For South Africa, Gerald Kortje took three wickets while Kagiso Rabada, Marco Yansen and Keshav Maharaj took two wickets each.
While De Kock and Dussen laid a strong foundation by adding 204 runs for the second wicket, Markram played a stormy innings with the help of 14 fours and three sixes. De Kock hit 11 fours and three sixes in his innings, while Dussen’s innings included 13 fours and two sixes. This is also the first century of these three South African batsmen in the World Cup.
Apart from these three, Heinrich Klaasen contributed 32 runs with the help of three fours and one six in 20 balls and David Miller contributed unbeaten 39 runs with the help of three fours and two sixes in 21 balls. Sri Lanka’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss did not prove correct. The wicket was favorable for batting and Sri Lanka’s bowling attack had weakened due to injuries to some key players.
Dilshan Madhushanka had given a good start to Sri Lanka by LBWing Temba Bavuma (08) in the beginning but after that his bowlers could not leave any impact. De Kock, who had decided to retire from ODIs after this tournament, batted in his evergreen style and completed the 18th century of his career, while Dussen supported him well and scored his fifth century in his 50th ODI match.
This partnership was broken due to De Kock’s dismissal, but this did not provide any relief to the Sri Lankan bowlers. Markram scored a lot of runs as soon as he came on the crease and broke the record of the fastest century in the World Cup held by Kevin O’Brien of Ireland. O’Brien scored a century in 50 balls in 2011. Sri Lankan spinners did not get any help from the pitch.
The situation was such that 85 runs were scored from 19th to 29th over. Sri Lanka’s fielding was also not good and its players also gave some chances to the South African batsmen. After this, while batting, the Sri Lankan team looked under pressure of a big target from the very beginning. His troubles increased due to the early dismissal of his openers Pathum Nissanka (00) and Kusal Perera (07). Both of them were bowled by fast bowler Yansen.
As soon as Kusal Mendis came, he adopted an aggressive attitude and hit a flurry of sixes. He hit four fours and eight sixes in his innings, which also included three sixes hit in one over by Lungi Ngidi. Mendis was given out LBW early on but thanks to DRS he remained at the crease. He also broke the record of Sanath Jayasuriya (seven) for hitting most sixes in an innings for Sri Lanka in the World Cup.
Mendis completed his half-century in only 25 balls. They made a partnership of 66 runs for the second wicket in which Perera’s contribution was only seven runs. Rabada gave a big relief to South Africa by getting Mendis caught behind the wicket. Sadira Samarawickrama (23) and Dhananjay de Silva (11) also could not play long innings and thus half of the Sri Lankan team reached the pavilion after reaching the score of 150 runs.
Asalanka scored a half-century in the World Cup debut match itself. He made a partnership of 82 runs with Shanaka for the sixth wicket. Asalanka hit eight fours and four sixes in his innings. Shanaka completed his half century in 50 balls by hitting four fours and a six in one over of Cortez. He hit six fours and three sixes in his innings before being bowled by Maharaj.