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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

30.5

Matheesha Pathirana to Aiden Markram. Off cutter back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot cutting, to deep cover for 1 run, fielded by Asalanka.

7 October 2023 12:04

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

30.4

OUT! Caught. Matheesha Pathirana to Quinton de Kock. Short, off stump on the back foot pulling, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to mid on, caught by de Silva.

7 October 2023 12:02

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

30.3

FOUR! Matheesha Pathirana to Quinton de Kock. Short, middle stump on the back foot pulling, well timed past deep mid wicket for 4 runs.

7 October 2023 12:01

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

30.2

Matheesha Pathirana to Quinton de Kock. Length ball, off stump on the front foot pushing, to point for no runs, fielded by Samarawickrama.

7 October 2023 12:00

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

30.1

FOUR! Matheesha Pathirana to Quinton de Kock. Full toss, outside off stump on the front foot cutting, thick edge past third man for 4 runs.

7 October 2023 11:59

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

29.5

SIX! Dunith Wellalage to Rassie van der Dussen. Stock ball back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot pulling, well timed in the air under control over deep mid wicket for 6 runs.

7 October 2023 11:58

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

29.4

Dunith Wellalage to Rassie van der Dussen. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the front foot working, to silly mid on for no runs, fielded by Shanaka.

7 October 2023 11:57

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

29.2

FOUR! Dunith Wellalage to Rassie van der Dussen. Stock length ball, middle stump on the front foot reverse sweeping, well timed in the air under control past deep backward point for 4 runs.

7 October 2023 11:56

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

28.6

Matheesha Pathirana to Rassie van der Dussen. Half volley, outside off stump on the front foot working, to mid on for 1 run, fielded by Shanaka.

7 October 2023 11:51

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

28.5

Matheesha Pathirana to Quinton de Kock. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, to deep point for 1 run, fielded by Loku Marakkalage.

7 October 2023 11:50

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