CWC 2023, SA vs SL: Markram scores fastest WC century; top-order blockbuster outing helps SA win

CWC 2023, South Africa vs Sri Lanka: Quinton de Kock-Van der Dussen's 204-run stand, Aiden Markram's 106 and Kusal Mendis' 76 are top performances. South Africa won by 102 runs against Sri Lanka.

Markram hits fastest ODI World Cup hundred (Photo: ©ICC/Twitter)

Brief Scores - South Africa - 428/5 ( Van der Dussen 108, Markram 106, Madushanka 2/86) beat Sri Lanka 326 all-out ( Asalanka 79, Mendis 76, Coetzee 3/68) by 102 runs.

Player of the Match: Aiden Markram (106 runs in 54 balls)

South Africa & Sri Lanka crossed swords in the fourth game of the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The Proteas have lost just one of their six ODI World Cup games against Sri Lanka, but all those matches were played outside Asia.

Quinton de Kock, Dussen & Markram helped SA post their highest World Cup total.

Talking Point: South Africa’s batting stamp their authority at the World Cup

A sensational display of determined 50-over batting from SA batters creates a history of setting the highest total of 428 runs in the World Cup. The Proteas, known for their cricketing prowess, showcased their dominance with 3 centurions in a single inning. This performance sent shockwaves through the cricketing world and left every team in the tournament with a daunting challenge ahead. The likes of de Kock, Dussen, Markram & Miller, combining their talents, form a dangerous batting line-up that can put any opposition team on the back foot. The top-order batting and their deadliest batting strength at the back end of the innings also set them apart.

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Dominant batting show by South Africans, ensuring them an emphatic win over SL

Sri Lanka won the toss, making South Africa to bat first. The SA side didn’t miss any chance and accomplished some remarkable feats during the match. Skipper Bavuma got dismissed early, leaving the side worried. Soon, their batters started attacking, and their exceptional performance made them achieve the milestone of having three different players score centuries in a World Cup match. Later, after their dismissal, Miller & Jansen provided the final flourish for their side. Complementing the batters, SA bowlers, too, displayed an outstanding show with the ball, making Lankans all-out in 44.5 overs.

The Sri Lankan side left worried about their bowling performance. This side is already going through some injury concerns; still, their batters gave up everything. Chasing a gigantic target against such a strong bowling department took work. Kusal Mendis, Asalanka & their skipper Shanaka fought bravely with their stunning knocks during the run-chase, but that wasn’t enough.

The top three performances from the fourth game between South Africa and Sri Lanka in CWC 2023:

Van der Dussen smashes hundred (Photo: ©ICC/Twitter)

Quinton de Kock & Van der Dussen stitched a historic 204-run partnership

The two sensational SA batters, Quinton de Kock & Van der Dussen, stepped in positively today and briskly took charge, launching a persistent knock on the Sri Lankan bowlers. De Kock displayed a magnificent & powerful batting show and achieved his 18th ODI century, surpassing the legend Jacques Kallis and getting fourth place on the list of most ODI centuries by the South African. Soon, Van der Dussen became the other centurion for SA in the same innings. He continued his onslaught on the Lankan bowlers and smashed his 5th ODI hundred. It’s worth noting that this partnership also became the fourth-highest in the history of the ODI World Cup for South Africa & the ever-second wicket stand in ODIs against Sri Lanka.

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Aiden Markram breaks 12 the old record of fastest century in CWC history

Aiden Markram displayed a marvelous batting show against Sri Lanka at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. He played a record-breaking knock, hitting a 49-ball century, and became the fastest centurion in the history of ICC Men’s CWC. The Proteas batter outshone Ireland batter Kevin O’Brien, who previously held the record for the fastest ODI World Cup century in 50 balls against England in 2011.

Kusal Mendis's quick knock gave hope to SL during their massive run-chase

Mendis fought fearlessly & played a quick knock of 76 runs against the strong bowling unit of SA. For a moment, his brilliant batting performance raised Sri Lanka's hopes of chasing a huge target, but soon he got dismissed by Rabada. This inning will give him confidence in moving ahead in the tournament.

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Statistical highlights from South Africa vs Sri Lanka, Delhi, CWC 2023

• Quinton de Kock & Rassie van der Dussen's 204 runs partnership is South Africa’s second-highest 2nd wicket stand in the World Cup.

• The 204-run stand between these two is their highest partnership for any wicket against Sri Lanka in the ODI World Cup.

• This is their highest-ever second-wicket stand in a 50-over format against Sri Lanka.

• Fourth highest partnership for South Africa in the ODI World Cup.

• Wicket-keeper batter Quinton de Kock scored his maiden ODI hundred in ICC tournaments.

• De Kock, with 18 centuries, became the fourth South African batter in the list of most ODI hundreds for their nation. He stands at No. 1 with the most Men’s ODI hundreds (17) before a World Cup century.

• Van der Dussen smashed his maiden ODI century against the Lankans and his highest ODI score in Asia.

• Aiden Markram hit the fastest hundred in World Cup history with just 49 balls, breaking the previous World Cup record held by Kevin O'Brien of Ireland in 2011.

• South Africa makes history with the three centurions in the World Cup match, becoming the first team to have three centurions in the same inning.

• South Africa reached the highest-ever CWC total by scoring 428-5, surpassing the previous record of 417 set by Australia against Afghanistan in Perth during the 2015 World Cup.

• Kusal Mendis hit 8 sixes during his innings, breaking the record of Jayasuriya for most sixes by a Sri Lankan batter in an ODI World Cup innings.

• Mendis hit the third-fastest half-century for the Lankans in ODI CWC.

• The second most sixes (31) hit in an ODI World Cup game jointly with NZ vs WI (31).

• Most boundaries (45) in an inning in an ODI World Cup match by South Africa.

• Most aggregate runs (754) in an ODI World Cup game.

• This match also saw the sixth-highest aggregate runs scored in an ODI game.
  

Points Table

Points Table Scenario & What's Next

With a 102-run victory, South Africa got two points with a positive NRR of 2.040, currently in 2nd position on the points table. India will take on Australia in the next match of CWC on October 8 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

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