ODI World Cup 2023: Sri Lanka concede 428 runs against South Africa

At the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, Sri Lanka elected to bowl first after winning the toss. The Dasun Shanaka-led side conceded 428 runs against South Africa as Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen scored centuries. Here is a recap of the first innings.

South Africa sees out the powerplay

South African batters Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen controlled the powerplay despite losing their captain, Temba Bavuma, on just the tenth ball of the innings. Dilshan Madushanka dismissed Bavuma. The South African captain contested the call and had the ruling reviewed because they believed the ball had been thrown outside the line of the leg stump. The ball tracker indicated that the pitch was in line, so South Africa had already lost their first review rather early in the game. During the powerplay, De Kock and van der Dussen batted cautiously. In the powerplay, South Africa scored 48 runs while only losing Temba Bavuma’s wicket once.

Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen dominate Sri Lankan bowlers

Following the powerplay, the play was directed by de Kock and van der Dussen. The pair were barely challenged by any bowlers as they smashed every Sri Lankan bowler. Six of Dasun Shanaka’s bowlers, including himself, were utilised. With de Kock entering an aggressive mindset, the majority of these bowlers were giving up runs at a costly pace. In the 31st over, Quinton scored his first century of the World Cup. He hit a four to reach his century, but Matheesha Pathirana dismissed him the very next ball. His bat turned in his hands as he attempted to pull a short delivery from Pathirana, and Dhananjaya de Silva at mid-on sprinted to his left to take a wonderful catch.

Quinton and Rassie break multiple records

In addition to breaking other records, Quinton and van der Dussen played a double-century stand together. The 204 runs they scored together against Sri Lanka is South Africa’s highest partnership ever. They currently hold the record for South Africa’s fourth-highest partnership at the Cricket World Cup. With his 18th century, De Kock passed Jacques Kallis to become the South African player with the fourth-most centuries in ODIs. The wicketkeeper-batter’s century today surpasses his 78* against Sri Lanka in the 2015 ODI World Cup to become his greatest score in World Cups.

Rassie and Markram keep the momentum going

The 35th over was when Rassie finished his century. He now had five ODI centuries. It seems that the scoring rate may slow down following QDK’s dismissal. Aiden Markram began his innings by playing in T20 style with a strike rate of more than 140. He ensured that the scoring rate was moving along at a rapid clip by smashing Dilshan Madushanka for three consecutive fours in the 34th over. Van der Dussen’s strike rate also approached run-a-ball levels.

While the centurion was attempting to clear the long-on boundary, Dunith Wellalage dismissed him, but the fielder, Sadeera Samarawickrama was able to make a simple catch. This wicket resulted in the quickfire 50-run stand being broken.

South Africa had already scored 291 runs going into the final 10 overs and appeared to be on track to achieve 400 runs for the innings. In the 42nd over, Markram hit back-to-back boundaries to reach his half-century. In his eighth over after coming back into the attack in the 43rd over, Pathirana conceded 26 runs. Markram hit him for three straight fours and Pathirana in between those fours bowled a yorker down the leg side that produced five wides. Markram hit a six to end the over. In the following over, Rajitha was brought back into the attack and dismissed Heinrich Klassen.  Klassen was hoping to add to his 32 runs in 20 balls that he had already scored. Markram struck a six over the long-on boundary during Rajitha’s over, which resulted in 10 runs.

Markram smashes the fast century in World Cups

Markram reached his century in just 49 balls in the 46th over, scoring a four and a six in two balls. This is the World Cup’s quickest century in history. Markram was removed by Madhushanka off the first ball of the 48th over. Following Markram’s dismissal, David Miller adopted a combative stance. With a six over deep mid-wicket on the opening delivery of the 49th over, Miller gave the Proteas their 400th run. South Africa reached the greatest total in World Cup history with a 23-run over in the penultimate over of the innings.