Quinton de Kock (100 off 84), Rassie van der Dussen (108 off 110) and Aiden Markram (106 off 54) ensured South Africa were off to a blazing start to their ICC ODI World Cup campaign on Saturday as they posted a mammoth 428/5 against Sri Lanka.
Quinton de Kock (100 off 84), Rassie van der Dussen (108 off 110) and Aiden Markram (106 off 54) ensured South Africa were off to a blazing start to their ICC ODI World Cup campaign on Saturday as they posted a mammoth 428/5 against Sri Lanka.
Aiden Markram smashed a 49-ball hundred, the fastest in the history of men's 50-overs World Cup cricket, as South Africa racked up a tournament record total. The 29-year-old eclipsed Ireland batter Kevin O'Brien's 50-ball century against England in a 2011 World Cup match.
Put in to bat, South Africa lost skipper Temba Bavuma in the second over, but de Kock and van der Dussen forged a rollicking 204-run stand to deflate Sri Lanka. Even after the duo exited, Markram kept punishing Sri Lanka, hitting 14 fours and three sixes in his blistering knock.
De Kock, set to retire from ODIs after the tournament, was in his elements in getting a hundred. On the other hand, Van der Dussen celebrated his 50th ODI with a fifth ton of the career, cracking 13 fours and two sixes in the process.
Australia's 417-6 against Afghanistan in Perth in 2015 was the previous highest total in the men's World Cup.
Sri Lanka arrived with a depleted bowling unit having lost the services of fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera and spin all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga through injuries. Spinner Maheesh Theekshana missed the match as he continues to recover from a hamstring tear, and the South African top order exposed their bowling frailties with scintillating power-hitting.
David Miller remained unbeaten on 39 off 21 balls."Perfect day with bat," van der Dussen said at the innings break. "We just bat according to conditions, as we did today... Markram, Miller are the best hitters and they showed it today."
Dilshan Madushanka (2/86) picked up two wickets for Sri Lanka.
Brief Scores: South Africa: 428 for 5 in 50 overs (Rassie van der Dussen 108, Aiden Markram 106, Quinton de Kock 100; Dilshan Madushanaka 2/86)