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South Africa vs Sri Lanka LIVE: Updates as record Cricket World Cup score posted

Follow all the action from Arun Jaitley Stadium

Sports Staff
Saturday 07 October 2023 18:08 BST
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(Getty Images)

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Aiden Markram smashed a 49-ball hundred, the fastest in the history of the men’s 50-overs World Cup, as South Africa’s rampaging top order helped them thrash Sri Lanka by 102 runs in their tournament opener on Saturday.

There was some brutal batting at the Arun Jaitley Stadium where three of South Africa’s top four batters smashed rapid hundreds to help them rack up a tournament record total of 428-5.

Quinton de Kock struck 100 and Rassie van der Dussen hammered 108 but both were overshadowed by Markram’s incendiary 106 off 54 balls. Markram eclipsed Ireland batter Kevin O’Brien’s 50-ball century against England in the 2011 World Cup.

Former champions Sri Lanka were all out for 326 in 44.5 overs after brief fightbacks by Kusal Mendis (76), Charith Asalanka (79) and Dasun Shanaka (68). South Africa’s mammoth score replaced Australia’s 417-6 against Afghanistan in 2015 as the highest total in the men’s World Cup.

Follow all the latest live coverage of today's match in the live blog below and get the latest Cricket World Cup odds here:

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka need 103 runs to win from 5.1 overs

7 October 2023 17:49

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

44.4

Kagiso Rabada to Matheesha Pathirana. Back of a length, outside off stump backing away cutting, missed for no runs, fielded by Klaasen.

7 October 2023 17:49

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

44.3

Kagiso Rabada to Matheesha Pathirana. Off cutter short, outside off stump on the back foot cutting, missed for no runs, fielded by Klaasen.

7 October 2023 17:48

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

44.2

Kagiso Rabada to Matheesha Pathirana. Yorker, down leg side backing away defending, back to bowler for no runs.

7 October 2023 17:47

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

44.1

Kagiso Rabada to Matheesha Pathirana. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot defending, to short extra cover for no runs, fielded by Maharaj.

7 October 2023 17:47

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

43.6

FOUR! Gerald Coetzee to Dilshan Madushanka. Half volley, outside off stump backing away driving, thick edge in the air uncontrolled past deep backward point for 4 runs.

7 October 2023 17:46

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

43.5

Gerald Coetzee to Dilshan Madushanka. Length ball, middle stump on the front foot working, hit pad to short extra cover for no runs, fielded by Bavuma.

7 October 2023 17:45

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

43.4

OUT! Caught. Gerald Coetzee to Kasun Rajitha. Leg cutter back of a length, down leg side backing away pulling, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to deep mid wicket, caught by Markram.

7 October 2023 17:44

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

43.3

Gerald Coetzee to Matheesha Pathirana. Half volley, outside off stump on the front foot driving, thick edge to third man for 1 run.

7 October 2023 17:43

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

43.2

Gerald Coetzee to Matheesha Pathirana. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, missed for no runs, fielded by Klaasen.

7 October 2023 17:43

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