South Africa have kicked started the World Cup 2023 campaign in style as they re-wrote the record books at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday against Sri Lanka. After being asked to bat first, The Proteas posted 428/5 in 50 overs which is now the highest World Cup score. On a sublime batting surface, Sri Lanka did manage to give them a fight by scoring 326 runs in reply.
The South African team etched its name in WC history books, courtesy some brilliance with the bat from Quinton de Kock, Van der Dussen and Aiden Markram as the troika notched up centuries to set the stage on fire at Arun Jaitley Stadium. Apart from them, David Miller and Klaasen also made some valuable contributions with the willow to help South Africa scrip history.
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While the batters did their job in an exceptional manner, South Africa conceded 326 runs after Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka made the most of the help that was on offer from the track in the capital city.
However, Markram, who slammed the fastest ODI century in WC history, isn’t really worried about the bowlers giving away some runs in the match as he suggested that it was a tough strip to bowl.
“Not too much of a concern. It was a really good wicket. The ball came on to the bat even better under the lights and there was dew as well later on. It was a belter of a wicket. I think there were certainly phases where we could have been better with the ball, we created a couple of opportunities and that’s good to see. Hopefully, going forward you take these opportunities to keep the momentum on your side and maybe you reduce them 40-50 runs less. It’s tough for the bowlers on a wicket like that,” Markram said while talking to media after the match.
“Very Good conditions. There was swing up front. We knew that if we could get to that condition it was a good wicket to bat on. The outfield was quick and with smaller boundaries. The conditions were good to bat,” he said.
South Africa also dropped some catches during the course of the innings before eventually wrapping up Sri Lanka’s innings in the 45th over. Gerald Coetzee who bowled 9 overs and picked up three wickets admitted that the dropped catches were crucial.
“The dropped catches were crucial. But it’s about learning from our mistakes. We want to play our best game in this World Cup. It was our first game in the World Cup and we won it and we want to take that momentum ahead,” Gerald Coetzee said.
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