ICC World Cup 2023: SA beat Sri Lanka with massive 102-run

New Dehli: South Africa kicked off their ICC World Cup 2023 campaign with an impressive 102-run victory over Sri Lanka at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday.

Delhi witnessed a barrage of boundaries and sixes, with the Lankan bowlers bearing the brunt as South Africa's formidable batting lineup set multiple records in the process.

In their innings, South Africa established a colossal target of 429 runs for Sri Lanka, thanks to scintillating performances from Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram.

All three batsmen achieved centuries, with Markram recording the fastest century in World Cup history, reaching the milestone in just 49 balls. This broke the previous record held by Ireland's Kevin O'Brien, who scored a memorable hundred in 50 balls against England during the 2011 World Cup, also held in India.

This total marked the highest-ever in World Cup history, and it was the first time that three different batsmen scored centuries in a single innings.

✅ The fastest century in Men's World Cup history
✅ The highest innings total in Men's World Cup history

All the records to fall from South Africa's outstanding #CWC23 performance against Sri Lanka ⬇https://t.co/hdvzlibvgf

— ICC (@ICC) October 7, 2023

In response to South Africa's imposing total, Sri Lanka managed to score 326 runs before being bowled out in 44.5 overs.

Sri Lanka's innings got off to a shaky start when opener Pathum Nissanka was bowled out by Marco Jansen's in-swinging delivery in the very first over.

However, Kusal Mendis took charge of the Lankan batting lineup and played a brisk innings of 76 runs off 42 balls, including eight sixes and four fours.

For a while, it seemed as though Mendis might achieve the impossible by chasing down the massive target, but he eventually fell victim to Kagiso Rabada.

Sri Lanka continued to lose wickets, but after Mendis, Charith Asalanka played an excellent innings, contributing 79 runs off 65 balls with 12 boundaries.

Captain Dasun Shanaka also added 68 runs, but it proved insufficient against the daunting target.

Sri Lanka will now focus on bouncing back from this loss as they face Pakistan in their second World Cup match in Hyderabad on October 10.

Meanwhile, South Africa's next challenge will be Australia in Lucknow on October 12.

Squads:

South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wkt), Temba Bavuma (capt), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wkt), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (capt), Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana