Aiden Markram smashes fastest World Cup ton as South Africa amass record total
Aiden Markram scored the fastest World Cup hundred as South Africa defeated Sri Lanka in Delhi with a score of 428-5, the best total ever for the competition. Markram made his ton off 49 balls, one quicker than Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien against England in Bangalore in 2011.
After Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen both reached century, he eventually fell for 106 from 54. The score was then surpassed by David Miller, breaking Australia’s previous record of 417-6 against Afghanistan in 2015.
On one of the flattest of wickets, Sri Lanka, guided by former England coach Chris Silverwood, fell apart in the midst of the devastation. Due to a slow over-rate, they gave up 21 wides and had to bowl the final two overs with another fielder set up within the ring.
Matheesha Pathirana’s 10 overs cost 95 for one wicket while giving up 26 runs in the 43rd over.
Additionally, it was the first time ever in a Men’s World Cup that three batters each scored a century.
Many have picked South Africa as the underdog to win the first white-ball championship because of their strong batting lineup, which has happened before in previous championships.
Markram and South Africa smash World Cup records
De Kock and Van dan Dussen meticulously constructed their innings after skipper Temba Bavuma was down for lbw to left-armer Dilshan Madushanka in the second over. They reached 48-1 after 10 overs and 118-1 after 20 overs.
Van der Dussen scored all over the wicket, including reverse sweeps to the spinners, before being dropped at backward point on 71.
De Kock played his signature fluid strokes after hitting 50 from 61 balls, increasing his intent.
He reached his first World Cup ton with his 12th four, a beautiful flip across mid-wicket, but he top-edged Pathirana the next ball.
This resulted in the introduction of Markram, whose innings started with beautiful straight strokes before turning ruthless as he hit 14 fours and three sixes.
While all-rounder Marco Jansen’s majestic straight six in the penultimate over set the new mark, Miller’s 39 from 21 kept the scoring rate high.
Heinrich Klaasen, one of five South African batters in the top 15 of the world rankings, also had 32 from 20, including three sixes.
South Africa recorded three hundreds in a single innings during the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 match against Sri Lanka in Delhi.
The Proteas equalled its own record for the most ODI hundreds in a single innings while marking the first instance of three centuries in an innings in a World Cup match.
After being sent into bat by Sri Lanka, South Africa opener Quinton de Kock slammed a ton before number three Rassie van der Dussen followed up with his maiden World Cup century. They were complemented by Aiden Markam’s 49-ball hundred, the fastest by any batter in World Cup history.
South Africa is the only team to have struck three hundreds in an ODI innings, having previously achieved the feat twice in 2015 against West Indies and India. England is the only other team to have hosted three hundreds in an innings, against the Netherlands in 2022 where it recorded the highest-ever ODI total (498/4).
They displayed their talent in a deadly way at the first chance.
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