SA vs SL Review: Proteas display batting prowess in their first assignment
South Africa and Sri Lanka delivered a run-fest in Delhi in the fourth match of the ICC men’s ODI World Cup 2023. It was the Proteas who turned out victors by 102 runs after posting the highest-ever total in World Cup history. A whopping 428/5 was put on the board with three players making a century.
Opting to bat first, the South African batters took full advantage of the batting-friendly pitch. Although Captain Temba Bavuma was dismissed early, Quinton de Kock and Rassie Van der Dussen dominated the Sri Lankan bowlers. De Kock displayed composure and scored a brilliant century off 83 balls. It left the Sri Lankan bowlers perplexed on the flat surface.
Van der Dussen also joined the party with a scintillating hundred off 103 balls. Their explosive partnership of 204 runs left Sri Lanka in disarray. Aiden Markram then added to the onslaught with a breathtaking century off just 49 balls, smashing 14 fours and 3 sixes to score the fastest-ever ton in World Cup, beating Kevin O’Briend’s record from 2011. Further Heinrich Klaasen provided crucial support. The duo pummeled the Sri Lankan bowlers, adding 78 runs in a mere 35 balls.
Markram reached his century in style with a six, marking the third-fastest ODI hundred for South Africa. The slow and low-scoring venue, which had not witnessed 300-plus ODI totals since the 2011 World Cup, saw an astonishing turnaround as South Africa amassed a staggering total of 428 runs.
In pursuit of the target, the Sri Lankan team made valiant efforts but the target proved too daunting to chase. Kusal Mendis entertained everyone with his brilliant quickfire knock of 76 off 42 balls. While Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka also contributed with scores of 79 and 68 respectively. However, these efforts were merely to reduce the defeat margin, as South Africa emerged victorious by a margin of 102 runs. This win marked a positive start to South Africa’s World Cup campaign.
Top Performers of the Match
Rassie van der Dussen (108 of 110 balls): The Protea batter took full advantage of a batting-friendly pitch and smashed the Sri Lankan bowlers all around the park. His partnership with de Kock was important for the team to set a base for the likes of Markram and Miller to provide the finishing touch and he did exactly that.
Gerald Coetzee (3/68, 9 overs): Making his debut in the World Cup, Coetzee displayed his bowling prowess with extreme pace and bounce. He kept on troubling the Sri Lankan batters throughout the match and took three wickets to emerge as the best bowler of the match in what was clearly not a match for the bowlers.
What next?
Looking ahead, Sri Lanka will face Pakistan on October 16. While South Africa will take on Australia on October 17.
