ICC World Cup 2023, Match 4
South Africa VS Sri Lanka, Played at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi on October 7 
South Africa 428/5 (Rassie van der Dussen 108, Aiden Markram 106, Quinton de Kock 100, David Miller 39, Henrich Klassen 32, Dilshan Madhushanka 2/89) 
Sri Lanka 326 All Out in 44.5 Overs (Charith Asalanka 79, Kushal Mendis 76, Dasun Shanaka 68, Kasun Rajitha 33, Gerald Coetzee 3/68, Kagiso Rabada 2/50, Keshav Maharaj 2/62, Marco Jansen 2/92) 
South Africa Won by 102 runs
Player of The Match: Aiden Markram 106 Runs (Fastest Hundred in ODI) 

Setting some new milestones South Africa, one of the hot favorites of CWC 2023 registered a big win by 102 Runs against Sri Lanka at easy paced bowlers’ graveyard of Arun Jaitley Stadium New Delhi on Saturday. Bating first South Africa scored 428/5 in allotted overs. Chasing that sky scrapper Sri Lanka did not die wondering. They also batted well but scoring 326 all out in 44.5 overs they fell short by 102 runs. 

428/5 that South Africa scored is the highest score of Cricket World history by any team eclipsing 417/7 that Australia scored against Afghanistan at Perth in in 2015. South Africa did score 400 or more three times with this one. Protea scored 411/5 against Ireland at Canberra in 2015. They also scored 408/5 against West Indies at Sydney in 2015. Three Protea batsmen Rassie van der Dussen (108), Aiden Markram (106) and Quinton de Kock (100) scoring centuries equaled their own record done twice in the past and once by England in the world cup. Scoring 100 in 49 balls Aiden Markram recorded the fasted century in the world cup.

South Africa starts every world cup with lots of promise. They look favorites for going all the way in most of the world cup. But reaching the business round the protea loose momentum and choke. This time they look formidable. They have great players who regularly feature in IPL 2023 in different franchise. In CWC 2023 they are among the favorites for making the semifinals.  

Highest World Cup Scores:

Highest Individual World Cup Score:

 Fast Centuries in World Cup History: 

Sri Lanka for reasons best known to them elected to field after winning the toss on a batting paradise. The decision backfired. Apart from Madhushanka trapping Protea captain Tenda Bavuma early Lankan bowlers had to toil all the way. Quinton de Kock (100) and Rassie van der Dussen (108) ruthlessly punished Lankan bowlers in their 204 runs second wicket partnership setting a launching pad for the middle order batsmen to pounce on.  Aiden Markram (106) blasted Lankan attack scoring the fastest century of the World Cup in only 49 balls. His brutal innings of 106 in 54 deliveries featured 14 fours and 3 sixes. The scores soared to all time high as David Miller (39 in 21 balls) and Henrich Klassen (32 in 20 deliveries) also made significant contributions. 

After such bruising and battering teams usually die wondering. But Sri Lankans were not dismayed. They also threw caution in the wind reaching 326 before getting all out in 44.5 overs. If any of the innings of Charith Asalanka (79), Kusal Mendis ( 76) and Dasun Shanaka (68) could be extended to big hundred Lankans could have challenged the Sky scraper that Protea put against them. However persistent good bowling by Gerald Coetzee (3/68), Kagiso Rabada (2/62) and Marco Jansen (2/92) put paid to Lankan efforts. Protea winning huge by 102 runs made a resound start of their CWC 2023 mission. 

BDST: 0741 HRS, OCT 08, 2023
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