754 runs, 3 centuries, 3 half-centuries, 3 scores of 30 or more, all achieved in a single ODI match. Yes, you read it right. South Africa shattered numerous ODI records in an ICC World Cup 2023 match against Sri Lanka held at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram played pivotal roles in securing a memorable World Cup victory for the Proteas. The Player of the Match, Aiden Markram, notched his 3rd ODI century.
Temba Bavuma led South Africa, initiating their World Cup 2023 campaign with a remarkable and dominant win over Lanka. Dasun Shanaka, who won the toss, might have been left pondering his decision to bowl first, as the formidable South African batting lineup posted a record-breaking total of 428 runs in 50 overs while losing 5 wickets. The 428 runs achieved by the Proteas on that Saturday marked the highest score ever in an ODI World Cup game.
This marked the 3rd occasion when South Africa scored 400+ in an ODI World Cup game, the most by any team. It also marked the 8th time that the Proteas scored a total of 400 or more in ODIs, again the highest by any team. Furthermore, this became the fourth-highest team total for South Africa in ODIs and the highest team total against Sri Lanka in ODIs, surpassing India’s 414/7 in Rajkot in 2009. It was also the second-highest team total in India in ODIs.
While chasing the target, Sri Lanka put up a valiant fight against the monumental total but still couldn’t avoid a defeat against the Men in Green. The net run rate could have further damaged the Lankan side, but they managed to narrow the gap as much as possible. Nevertheless, the Proteas managed to take all 10 wickets of the Asian side, who could only muster a total of 326 runs, resulting in a 102-run defeat.
Dream Partnership Between De Kock and Van der Dussen on the Big Stage
Proteas Captain Temba Bavuma left the crease without troubling the scorecard as Dilshan Madhushanka got him out LBW in the second over of the first innings. But the Proteas didn’t mind the early setback, as opening batsman Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen, who came in one down, played brilliantly at Kotla Stadium. Both batsmen built a risk-free and effective partnership. The 204-run third-wicket partnership between them was the fourth-highest partnership for South Africa in an ODI World Cup and the highest partnership for the Proteas against Sri Lanka for any wicket.
De Kock, playing in his third and final ICC ODI World Cup, finally smashed his maiden ODI World Cup century, his overall 18th ODI ton in 83 balls, which also became his highest score in an ICC event. Moreover, the 30-year-old De Kock became the second South African wicketkeeper to score a hundred in an ODI World Cup after AB De Villiers. Unfortunately, he got out on the very next ball after reaching his ton.
However, another Proteas batsman, Van Der Dussen, also secured his maiden ODI World Cup century. His century will be etched forever in the World Cup record books as the 200th century in the history of the ODI World Cup. Also, Van der Dussen (34 years, 242 days) became the second-oldest South African player to score a hundred in the World Cup after Faf Du Plessis. He got out to Dunith Wellalage after scoring 108 off 110.
Aiden Markram Fans the Flames in Lanka’s Wound
The 29-year-old Aiden Markram shattered the record by smashing the fastest ODI World Cup century in just 49 balls. He broke the records set by Kevin O’Brien, Glenn Maxwell, and De Villiers, who achieved centuries in 50, 51, and 52 balls, respectively. With Aiden Markram scoring a century, it became the first instance of three players scoring centuries for a team in an innings in the World Cup and also the fourth overall instance in ODI cricket.
Moreover, it also became the third fastest ODI century for South Africa, with de Villiers achieving it in 31 balls and Mark Boucher scoring it in 44 balls. Aiden Markram scored a breathtaking 106 runs off 54 balls at a strike rate of 196.3, which also included 14 fours and 3 sixes. He missed converting it into a “big daddy” hundred as Dilshan Madhushanka made him his second victim of the day.
Competitive Challenge Posed by Lankan Batters
The Proteas were on top of the moon after Marco Jansen, who was playing in his debut World Cup match, removed both the openers, Pathum Nissanka (0 off 3) and Kushal Perera (7 off 15). However, afterward, the in-form wicketkeeper-batsman, Kusal Mendis, played a blinder and scored 76 off just 42 balls, which included 4 fours and 8 sixes. Mendis scored fifty in just 25 balls, making it the third-fastest fifty for Sri Lanka in the ODI World Cup.
Mendis smashed 8 sixes in the first ten overs of the second innings, becoming the third batsman to do so after Chris Gayle and Martin Guptill. Sri Lanka scored 94 runs with the loss of 2 wickets in the first ten overs, which was the highest first ten overs score in an ODI World Cup. Kagiso Rabada cleaned up Mendis, but Shanaka and Charith Asalanka played beautifully and scored 68 off 62 and 79 off 65, respectively. The epic match between the two teams also saw the most boundaries (105) hit in an ODI World Cup match. Gerald Coetzee picked up 3 wickets, while Keshav Maharaj, Rabada, and Jansen picked up two each.
To Start Well in the World Cup was Important and Something that we Talked About – Aiden Markram
Aiden Markram, after winning the Player of the Match, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance and strategy. He acknowledged the foundation laid by De Kock and Van der Dussen, which gave him the freedom to play his game. He further revealed that starting the World Cup with a strong performance was a key objective the team had discussed.
“Feels fantastic. The platform was laid beautifully by Quinny and Rassie. Gave us the freedom. Some days it comes off, some days it doesn’t. Pretty clear with what’s expected of me as a batter. Like every other team, we try to play a positive brand of cricket. Initially you want to get a feel for the wicket. Ultimately it’s about backing your options,” said Aiden Markram.
“Happy with how it worked out. The wicket played really well. The ball was travelling. Feels good to be on the positive side of things. To start well in the World Cup was important and something that we talked about,” he added.
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