Aiden Markram’s sensational century helped South Africa beat Sri Lanka by a massive 102 runs in an intense high-scoring match at the Men’s Cricket World Cup in Delhi.
The Proteas No.4 smashed the fastest hundred in CWC history, reaching the landmark off just 49 balls with a towering six over midwicket.
Markram’s blitzkrieg eclipsed the previous record of 50 balls, set by Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien against England in 2011.
He also helped South Africa post the highest total ever in a CWC match, a staggering 428/5, surpassing Australia’s 417/6 against Afghanistan in 2015.
Markram was not the only star of the show, as South Africa became the first team to have three centurions in a CWC innings.
Opener Quinton de Kock set the tone with a fluent 100 off 84 balls, while Rassie van der Dussen anchored the innings with a composed 108 off 110 balls.
The trio of tons matched the record for the most in a men’s ODI innings, achieved only three times before by England in 2022 and South Africa twice in 2015.
Markram was eventually dismissed for 106 off 54 balls, having hit three sixes and 14 fours at a strike rate of 196.
His explosive knock propelled South Africa past the 400-mark for the fifth time in their ODI history and the first time in this tournament.
Sri Lanka faced an uphill task to chase down such a mammoth target, but they did not go down without a fight.
They scored 326 all out in 44.5 overs, making this the highest-scoring game ever seen at a CWC, with a total of 754 runs scored.
The match also witnessed more boundaries than any other CWC fixture, with 94 fours and 22 sixes hit by both teams.
Sri Lanka’s top order gave them a glimmer of hope, with Kusal Perera (68), Avishka Fernando (62) and Dhananjaya de Silva (51) all scoring half-centuries.
But they could not keep up with the required run rate, as South Africa’s bowlers chipped away with regular wickets.
Kagiso Rabada was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4/64, while Lungi Ngidi and Tabraiz Shamsi claimed two wickets each.
South Africa’s emphatic win boosted their chances of qualifying for the semi-finals, while Sri Lanka’s hopes were dashed with their third defeat in four games.
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