South Africa rewrote the file books on Saturday as they posted the best ever World Cup whole of 428 whereas Aiden Markram clubbed the quickest match century in simply 49 balls in a 102-run victory over Sri Lanka. The Proteas bettered the earlier World Cup excessive of 417 made by Australia towards Afghanistan at Perth in 2015. Their 428-5 was additionally the ninth highest whole in all one-day internationals. Markram, who went on to make 106, beat the earlier file for quickest World Cup century which was claimed by Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien off 50 balls towards England at Bengaluru in 2011. His first 50 on Saturday got here from 34 balls whereas he wanted solely 15 extra deliveries so as to add the subsequent 50.

Rassie van der Dussen (108) and Quinton de Kock (100) additionally hit centuries within the first World Cup match to function three tons in the identical innings.

Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka and skipper Dasun Shanaka all then hit half-centuries however Sri Lanka’s reply was all the time going to be injury limitation.

“We wanted to win the game and that’s what we did. I can’t find fault with the batting. We were not quite clinical with the ball but we will take that confidence into the next game,” mentioned South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma.

For Sri Lanka, the figures made for grim studying with two of their bowlers — Matheesha Pathirana (1-95) and Kasun Rajitha (1-90) — conceding greater than 180 runs from 20 overs.

It was a outstanding show of big-hitting by a South African aspect who had been skittled out for simply 99 the final time they performed at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium in October 2022.

“From a team like South Africa, we expected 350 anyway in these conditions. If we’d managed to keep them to 370 it’s manageable,” mentioned Shanaka.

“We had the momentum especially the way that Mendis and Asalanka played. But their total was a little too much for us.”

De Kock, who’s enjoying in his last worldwide match, hit his 18th ODI century off 83 balls with 12 fours and three sixes.

De Kock placed on 204 runs for the second wicket with Van der Dussen earlier than being dismissed off the subsequent ball he confronted after reaching 100, high edging a supply from Pathirana to Dhananjaya de Silva at mid-on.

Van der Dussen quickly reached his fifth century within the format off 103 balls with 12 fours and three sixes.

The 34-year-old, enjoying in his fiftieth ODI, was out within the thirty eighth over when Sadeera Samarawickrama took a catch on the long-on boundary.

De Kock and Van der Dussen got here collectively on the fall of the primary wicket when Bavuma was trapped lbw by Dilshan Madushanka for simply eight within the second over.

Markram gave Sri Lanka no respite, racing to his half-century from 34 balls earlier than he and Heinrich Klaasen (32) took the Proteas previous the 350 mark within the forty fourth over.

Markram’s century featured 14 fours and three sixes.

He plundered 18 off one over from Pathirana, the younger, sling-action quick bowler hailed because the seemingly World Cup “X Factor” 24 hours earlier by Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood.

Markram was finally dismissed when he skied the ball to Rajitha within the deep off Madushanka.

David Miller cracked 39 runs off 21 balls with two sixes within the late overs to additional deepen the distress for Sri Lanka.

South Africa quick bowler Marco Jansen took two early wickets, clear bowling Sri Lanka openers Pathum Nissanka (0) and Kusal Perera (7).

Mendis, who hit 158 towards Afghanistan in a warm-up final week, briefly threatened hope for Sri Lanka.

The 28-year-old raced to a half-century off simply 25 balls however his resistance ended when Klaasen held on to a catch off a 140km/h supply from Kagiso Rabada.

Mendis made 76 with 4 boundaries and eight sixes whereas Asalanka hit 79 with eight fours and 4 sixes.

Shanaka additionally helped restore a level of dignity with 68, the primary time in 14 innings he had acquired previous 25.

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