ODI World Cup 2023: South Africa scored 428 runs against Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka after winning the toss opted to bowl first at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The Dasun Shanaka-led side conceded 428 runs against South Africa as Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen scored centuries. Here is a recap of the first innings.

South Africa sees out the powerplay

Despite losing the wicket of their skipper, Temba Bavuma on just the 10th ball of the innings, South African batters, Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen dominated the powerplay. Bavuma was dismissed by Dilshan Madushanka. He was given LBW and the South African skipper challenged the call and reviewed the decision thinking the ball pitched outside the line of the leg stump. The ball tracker showed it pitching in line which meant that South Africa had lost their first review pretty early in the game. De Kock and van der Dussen batted with caution throughout the powerplay. South Africa scored 48 runs in the powerplay losing just the solitary wicket of Temba Bavuma.

Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen dominate Sri Lankan bowlers

Right after the powerplay, it was de Kock and van der Dussen dictating the play. The duo battered all the Sri Lankan bowlers and were hardly troubled by any bowlers. Dasun Shanaka used six of his bowlers including himself. Most of these bowlers were conceding runs at an expensive rate with de Kock getting into an aggressive mode. Quinton scored his first century in the World Cup in the 31st over. He brought up his century with a four but was dismissed on the very next ball by Matheesha Pathirana. He was trying to pull a short delivery from Pathirana but his bat turned in his hands and Dhananjaya de Silva from mid-on ran to his left to take a fine catch.

Quinton and Rassie break multiple records

Quinton and van der Dussen shared a double-century stand and in the meantime broke many records. Their 204-run partnership is the highest partnership for South Africa against Sri Lanka. They also now hold the record for the 4th highest partnership for South Africa in Cricket World Cup. De Kock with his 18th century went past Jacques Kallis and now has the fourth most centuries for South Africa in ODIs. The wicketkeeper-batter’s century today is now his highest score in ODI World Cup beating his 78* against Sri Lanka in the 2015 ODI World Cup.

Rassie and Markram keep the momentum going

Rassie completed his century in the 35th over. This was his 5th ODI century. After QDK’s wicket, it seemed like the scoring rate might take a back seat. Aiden Markram started his innings in T20 mode playing with a strike rate in excess of 140. In the 34th over he smashed Dilshan Madushanka for three consecutive fours and made sure that the scoring rate was going at a high pace. Van der Dussen too got his strike rate close to a run-a-ball speed.

Dunith Wellalage dismissed the centurion as he was trying to clear the long-on boundary but found the fielder giving Sadeera Samarawickrama a simple catch. The quickfire 50-run stand was broken as a result of this wicket.

Heading into the last 10 overs, South Africa had already scored 291 runs and looked on course to reach 400 by the end of the innings. Markram brought up his half-century with back-to-back boundaries in the 42nd over. Pathirana came back into the attack in the 43rd over and conceded 26 runs in his eighth over. Markram smashed him for three consecutive fours and in between Pathirana too bowled a yorker down the leg side resulting in five wides. Markram finished the over with a six. Rajitha in the next over was re-introduced in the attack and took the wicket of Heinrich Klassen. Klassen had already scored 32 runs in 20 balls and was looking to score some more. Rajitha’s over went for 10 runs with Markram hitting a six over the long-on boundary.

Markram smashes the fast century in World Cups

In the 46th over with a four and a six in two balls, Markram completed his century in just 49 balls. This is now the fastest century in World Cup history. Madhushanka dismissed Markram on the first ball of the 48th over. Right after Markram’s wicket, David Miller took an aggressive approach. On the first ball of the 49th over Miller brought up the 400 for the Proteas with a six over deep mid-wicket. With a 23-run over in the penultimate over of the innings, South Africa made the highest total in World Cup history.