South Africa hit highest World Cup total of 428

AFP . New Delhi
07 Oct 2023 19:34:00 | Update: 08 Oct 2023 12:16:08

South Africa's Rassie van der Dussen celebrates after scoring a century (100 runs) during the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup one-day international (ODI) match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on October 7, 2023 — AFP Photo

South Africa rewrote the record books on Saturday as they posted the highest-ever World Cup total of 428 as Aiden Markram clubbed the fastest tournament century in just 49 balls against shell-shocked Sri Lanka.

The Proteas bettered the previous World Cup best of 417 made by Australia against Afghanistan at Perth in 2015.

Their 428-5 was also the ninth-highest total in all one-day internationals.

Markram, who went on to make 106, beat the record for the fastest World Cup century set by Ireland's Kevin O'Brien off 50 balls against England at Bengaluru in 2011.

Rassie van der Dussen (108) and Quinton de Kock (100) also hit centuries in the first World Cup match to feature three tons in the same innings.

"It was a perfect day for us with the bat. We had to work hard up front up against the swinging ball and then well into the middle overs," said Van der Dussen.

"We have a blueprint to set it up for the guys in the middle order. Aiden Markram when he plays like that is incredible to watch."

For Sri Lanka, the figures made grim reading with bowlers Matheesha Pathirana (1-95) and Kasun Rajitha (1-90) conceding more than 180 runs from 20 overs.