A complete performance from South Africa both with the bat and ball first three centuries from the top order especially from Aiden Markram who scored one of the fastest centuries in one-day internationals. Then the bowlers finished the job with a clinical performance with the ball as they won by a mammoth 102 runs. Aiden Markram was seen timing the ball sweetly.
Sri Lanka and South Africa are facing each other in the opening encounter of the mega event without some of the star players in both the teams as South Africa misses their star speedster Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala as far as Sri Lanka is concerned they also go in without the services of leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga and seamers Dushmantha Chameera and Lahiru Madushanka, it’ll be a tall mountain to climb for them.
Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl it’s a decision that the Sri Lankan skipper will want to regret for his career as South Africa got off to a blast Sri Lanka got the South African captain cheaply but after that, it’s all about South Africa.
South African Top Order smashed the Sri Lankan bowlers out of the park as they scored over 400
It all started by the man who was playing his last World Cup De Kock who along with Rassie van der Dussen took the attack to the opposition with some brutal hitting as the duo completed their respective tons and in that process, they also got to their double century partnership as a pair before it was broken at 204 as De Kock departs for a fantastic knock of 100 off 84 balls with 12 fours and 3 sixes.
Then Markram joins the party from there on it’s all about Markram’s magic as he takes the attack to Pathirana was supposed to be a death bowling specialist but he too is being taken for cleaners. On the other hand, Sri Lanka managed to pick Klassen who was dismissed for a brilliant 108 off 110 with 13 fours and two sixes
Markram continued his breathtaking innings and scored the third century of the innings before departing for an outstanding 106 off just 54 balls with 14 fours and 3 sixes David Miller just did what he does best scoring a quick-fire 39 to take the team past 400 as they finished at 428 for 5 in their 50 overs the highest world cup total.
Bowlers hand South Africa a comfortable victory over Sri Lanka
The fast bowling unit of South Africa is in full force as the trio of Rabada, Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee decimate the Sri Lanka batting order. Marco Jansen started the attack as he picked up a wicket in the very first over of the innings he bowled with great control in the power play along with Rabada as the duo picked up 4 wickets for 142 as both of them ended up on the expensive spell of the match.
Gerald Coetzee is a perfect replacement for the star speedster Anrich Nortje as he picked two quick wickets to bring South Africa back into the game he finished with the figures of 3 for 68 in his 9 overs. Kusal Mendis once again showed his class with a bat by scoring the brilliant 76 off just 42 balls with 4 fours and 8 sixes with a strike rate of 180.76
He was well-supported by Asalanka who showed some resistance for Sri Lanka as he scored a well-crafted 79 off 65 balls with 8 fours and 4 sixes the top scorer for Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan skipper too showed some resistance with the bat as he scored 68 off63 with 6 fours and 3 sixes. Keshav Maharaj did his role perfectly in a game where there was no space for the spinners he bowled with great control and he finished with 2 for 62 in his 10 overs.
Rajitha played a fantastic cameo at the end but it went in vain as the target was too big for Sri Lanka to climb as they lost the match.