A rampant South Africa crushed Sri Lanka by 102 runs here on Saturday to begin their World Cup campaign with a huge win, after setting the record for the highest total by any team in the history of the competition.
Aiden Markram (106 off 54 balls) smashed a century off 49 balls to create the record
of the fastest ton in World Cups. Quinton de Kock (100) and Rassie van der Dussen (108) also crossed triple figures, as the Proteas made 428/5 in 50 overs.
In reply, Kusal Mendis dazzled at the top with a rapid 76, Charith Asalanka top-scored with 79 in the middle-order and Dasun Shanaka found form to hit 68. But the target was way beyond Sri Lanka, who did well to make 326 in 44.5 overs, keeping South Africa in the park for as long as they could.
The contest ended with the distinction of featuring the most runs scored (754) in a World Cup game.
In the first half, De Kock, Van der Dussen and Markram powered the Proteas past the highest World Cup total ever, held by Australia, who had made 417/7 against Afghanistan in the 2015 edition.
After De Kock — set to retire from ODIs after the tournament — and Van der Dussen set the platform for a massive score with their second-wicket stand of 204 runs, Markram pulverised Sri Lanka.
All three centurions also recorded their maiden World Cup hundreds.
Later, after Marco Jansen (2/92) cleaned up Pathum Nissanka (0) in the second over, Mendis unleashed a flurry of spectacular sixes on both sides of the wicket to provide Sri Lanka with the early impetus.
The senior Sri Lanka batter, who hit eight sixes and four boundaries in his 42-ball blitz, waged a lone battle for some time before Asalanka and Shanka joined the cause.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, however, was not fully satisfied and wanted a better performance from his bowlers. “(We) asked for a clinical performance but didn’t get that,” he said.
With inputs from PTI
