Aiden Markram struck the fastest century in the history of the World Cup while further hundreds from Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen enabled the Proteas to pulverise an abject Sri Lanka for 428 for five in their opening ICC World Cup match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Saturday.
In an innings that was a cricket statistician’s joy, Markram’s hundred came up in just 49 balls (a hook for six clinching the deal), beating Kevin O’Brien’s 50-ball effort for Ireland against England in 2011. Even more impressive, however, was the fact that his strokeplay was so exquisite. This was no brutal demolition but an innings of the highest quality, particularly his straight and cover driving, as well as late cuts, pulls and hooks.
South Africa’s total was also the highest in any World Cup, the highest by South Africa against Sri Lanka and the first time in a World Cup that centuries have been scored by three batters in the same team. It was also a ground record at a venue where the average first innings total is 230.
South Africa began their innings briskly, but skipper Temba Bavuma was an early casualty, trapped leg before on the crease to a delivery from left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka that curved back at him. It would be the last time the Sri Lankans would experience any joy.
De Kock and Van der Dussen began fairly conservatively as the Proteas reached 48 for one at the end of the first power-play. Gradually, however, they increased their scoring rate and by the time De Kock reached his hundred, he and Van der Dussen had added 204 in 174 balls for the second wicket.
Sri Lanka had their opportunities to break the partnership, although they will consider them half-chances, particularly a reverse-sweep from Van der Dussen off left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage that evaded the point fielder.
De Kock holed out immediately after bringing up his hundred (84 balls, 12x4s, 3x6s) before Van der Dussen and Markram went into overdrive as they battered a 50 off 40 balls for the next wicket before Van der Dussen also holed out for a superb 108 in 110 balls (13x4s, 2x6s).
It must have been a depressing experience for the Sri Lankans to watch Heinrich Klaasen come to the crease with the total on 264 for three in only the 38th over and sure enough, the recent destroyer of the Aussie attack didn’t hang about, plundering 32 in just 20 balls as he and Markram pillaged 78 off 36 balls for the fourth wicket.
The Sri Lankan agony didn’t end with Klaasen’s demise as Markram and David Miller added a further 41 in 24 balls for the fifth wicket before Markram, more in exhaustion that anything else, offered a catch in the deep to depart for a stunning 106 in 54 balls.
Miller, who had initially been more concerned with giving his partner the strike, then enjoyed a late flourish, finishing unbeaten on 39 in 21 balls (3x4s, 2x6s) as a battered, bemused and ultimately brutalised Sri Lanka trooped from the field after bleeding 137 runs from the last 10 overs..
The less said the better about the Sri Lankan bowlers with Wellalaga (1/81 in 10 overs) recording the worst figures on World Cup debut for any Sri Lankan bowler. But he was not alone as the Lankan bowlers almost all went for eight and nine an over.
It has to be said that the Lankans were without their two most successful bowlers, Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, and how it showed.
To make matters worse, the Sri Lankans were four overs behind the rate towards the end of the Proteas’ innings and were forced for field five within the circle. A total of 18 wides conceded also did not help their cause.
SOUTH AFRICA: Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (capt), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
SRI LANKA: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (capt), Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana
