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Aiden Markram, De Kock, Van Der Dussen's Centuries Propel South Africa To Highest WC Total

Arjun Bhalla

image-lng0rijhMarkram scored a massive hundred vs SL in Delhi (AP Photo)

Brief Score: South Africa - 428/5 [Rassie van der Dussen - 108, Aiden Markram - 106, Quinton de Kock - 100] vs Sri Lanka [Dilshan Madushanka - 2/86 (10), Dunith Wellalage - 1/81 (10)].

South Africa's prolific batter, Aiden Markram, has begun his account in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 with a bang, hitting the fastest century in the tournament's history. Meanwhile, top-order batters - Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen - also registered their maiden World Cup hundred. As a result, South Africa have recorded the highest team total in the World Cup.

The day kickstarted on a positive note for Sri Lanka as they first won the toss - asking the Proteas to bat first on a flat Delhi track - and sent Temba Bavuma back early in the innings. However, after that, de Kock and van der Dussen took things to their stride and toyed with the Lankan bowlers like anything.

The duo scored their respective hundreds at rapid rates, but they were given some chances by the opposition team. And, after their dismissals came Aiden Markram to the crease. The prolific batter played second fiddle to van der Dussen and Klaasen. Still, as soon as he registered his fifty, the 29-year-old batter reached his maiden World Cup century - the fastest hundred in World Cup history.

Markram completed his ton off just 49 deliveries, beating Kevin O'Brien's record that he registered against the reigning champions England back in 2011. The Proteas batter's innings eventually ended at 106 off 54 balls, where he slammed 14 boundaries and three towering maximums.

During the innings, the South Africans stitched the innings like an art piece, as they hit 48 runs in their first ten overs before slamming 70 runs, 78 runs, 95 runs and 137 runs in each ten overs of the innings.

On the bowling front, the Sri Lankan bowlers leaked runs like a running tap. Four of their bowlers gave runs at an economy rate over 8 RPO, with the CSK-famed Matheesha Pathirana recording the worst figures for a Sri Lanka bowler in the World Cup - 1/95 in 10 overs.