ISLAMABAD: Two brilliant hundreds by Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen took South Africa to a secure position against Sri Lanka in the ICC World Cup match being played in Delhi, India on Saturday. The story didn’t end here as the number four Markram even went miles ahead and smashed a flying inning of 106 runs in just 54 balls to drive the Protest into a gigantic total of 428 runs.
Earlier winning the toss, Sri Lanka chose to field first. The bowling side got an early wicket of the skipper and open Bavuma, who scored just 8 runs. However, when the number three batter joined the opener De Kock, both of the batters managed to stay on the crease for a long and smashed Sri Lankan bowlers on all sides of the boundaries.
Both played superb innings and completed their centuries in style. De Kock smashed three sixes and 12 boundaries in his 100 runs inning while playing 108 balls. While Dussen hit 2 long sixes and 13 boundaries in his 108 runs. After the dismissal of both the centurions’ number four batter, Markram and Klaasen took charge of the inning with more power and a high run rate. Klassen was removed by Rajitha on 32 while facing 20 balls, however, Markram was even more ruthless. He outclassed the Sri Lankan bowlers and completed his century on just 49 balls. He was the third batter to complete a hundred in a single inning to take his side to a huge total. He was removed by Madushanka on 106 runs on just 54 balls in the 48th over. However, at the time, South Africa reached a huge total of 383 for 5 with 17 deliveries left in the innings. At the end of the inning, David Miller (39) and Jensen (12) added some valuable runs to the total to take their side crossing the 400 mark. In 50 overs, South Africa built a total of 428 runs for 5 wickets. It was the highest score of any team in a World Cup event.
From the Sri Lankan side, Rajitha, Pathirana and Wellalage took one wicket each, while Madushanka took two wickets. Pathirana was the most expensive bowler, who conceded 95 runs in his ten-over spill. In Bowling, it was not a good day for the Sri Lankan pacer.
South Africa Squad:
Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock †, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi
Sri Lanka Squad:
Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis†, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka and Matheesha Pathirana
