The stage was set for the Proteas to exploit sublime batting conditions at Arun Jaitley Stadium and the batters didn’t disappoint at all. The troika of Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram lit up the Kotla with their magnificent hundreds.
The Arun Jaitley Stadium was revamped for the World Cup and South Africa batters doubled the fans’ joy by posting the highest-ever total in the tournament’s history – 428/5 in 50 overs.
Delhi was hosting its first match of this edition of WC and by the initial looks, it gave an impression that the stands would go empty. But as the day progressed, the headcount peaked and the South African batters made sure the fans had a gala time in the evening.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka had managed to pick an early wicket with Dilshan Madushanka trapping Proteas captain Temba Bavuma in front of the stumps. He was then replaced by Van der Dussen and what unfolded next was a masterclass with the bat.
South Africa vs Sri Lanka, Live Score World Cup 2023
A 204-run stand for the second wicket that comprised of all the classic strokes in the textbook followed suit. In the initial stage of the innings, De Kock and Van der Dussen made sure that South Africa didn’t lose any wickets.
Both the batters took their chances as and when something was bowled in their slot, especially against Dhananjaya de Silva.
Quinton de Kock began to cut loose
Quinton de Kock played more of an anchor’s role before reaching his half-century. But as soon as he reached the 50-run mark, the left-handed batter began to cut loose.
The use of drives and pulls was more evident during the course of his knock. De Kock didn’t shy away from driving the fuller ones through the covers while pulling the short deliveries to the fence with authority and also used the sweep and reverse sweep once he got his eye in.
It seemed to be a role reversal between De Kock and Van der Dussen the moment De Kock scored fifty. The left-hander began to score runs at a brisk pace and notched up his hundred in 83 balls.
He was elated after dispatching the ball over long-on for a boundary to complete a brilliant hundred.
His delight knew no boundary. And why not? After all, it was a massive achievement. A World Cup century.
ALSO READ| SA vs SL: Aiden Markram Smashes Fastest Hundred in ODI World Cup History, Breaks 12-year-old Record
De Kock miscued a pull stroke and was eventually caught by De Silva off Pathirana for 100 off 84 after
On the other side, Van der Dussen never looked like a second fiddle and displayed why he is the number-3 ranked ODI batter. The right-handed batter was on a roll against spinners and slogged them all around the park.
The 34-year-old went on to score 108 runs off 110 balls before getting dismissed by Dunith Wellalage.
The Aiden Markram show
With the wickets of De Kock and Van der Dussen, many would have thought that Proteas would slow down but there was Aiden Markram show waiting in the wings.
Markram showed his class in the very beginning against Madushanka as he struck a couple of boundaries on the trot straight down the ground and then pulled one to add the third one in the kitty.
The right-hander didn’t look back from there on and hit boundaries at regular intervals.
The 29-year-old looked in total control right from the start but it was the 43rd over of the innings where he hit the top gear. It was death-over specialist Mattheesha Pathirana who had the ball in hand but had no idea what was coming his way.
The second ball of the over went for a boundary, the next one went for 5 wides followed by two fours, a couple and a maximum on the next four deliveries. The youngster ended up giving away 26 runs in that over.
In the 46th over, he smacked one over deep square leg to score the fastest century (49 balls) in ODI World Cup history breaking Kevin O’brien’s 12-year-old record
His knock was decorated with drives, pulls and cuts and the South African batter struck 106 off just 54 deliveries before getting dismissed by Dilshan Madushanka.
Misery doesn’t end for Sri Lanka
In the business end, Heinrich Klaasen chipped in with 32 off 20 while David Miller remained unbeaten at 39 off 21 as South Africa went on to score 428/5 in 50 overs which is now the highest score in World Cup history.
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