Match Center

Right then, that is it from this high-scoring encounter where many records were broken but ultimately South Africa took the two points while Sri Lanka will need to come back stronger in their next game. However, our focus now shifts to the high-voltage clash between the hosts, India and five-time champion Australia. That game will begin at 2 pm IST (8.30 am GMT) on 8th October, Sunday, but as you know, you can join us early for all the build-up to the game. Until then, cheers and goodbye!

Temba Bavuma, the victorious skipper of South Africa says that he is happy with the result. Mentions that when you score 400, you can not find much fault in batting. Adds that the bowling was not clinical but different individuals came back nicely. Says that he wanted to field as well and it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Reckons that batting became easier under lights and the batters were able to use the pace. Shares that there was a perception that there would be variable bounce here. Credits Kusal Mendis for putting the bowlers under pressure. Feels that they need to adjust to the conditions and go to the spin options. Adds that their next game is in Lucknow where the conditions will be different. Ends by informing that Quinton de Kock is fine.

Dasun Shanaka, the captain of Sri Lanka says that he expected a high-scoring game here. Adds that he thinks that the right execution was not there from their bowlers and that cost them. Tells that he expected South Africa to score over 350 in these conditions but if they restricted them to around 370, they would have had a chance. Praises Charith Asalanka for his batting and they had the momentum when he was batting but to chase that 20-30 runs more was always going to be difficult. Mentions that it is disappointing to have your main bowlers but these kids have stepped up for them and he was happy with the intent in the batting too. Ends by saying they will learn from this and try to get better in the next games.

Aiden Markram is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his scintillating hundred, the fastest in ODI World Cup history. He says that it feels fantastic to get the win. Credits Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen for laying the platform which gave the middle order batters to express themselves. Shares that he is incredibly stoked with how it went today. States he is pretty clear about what is expected of him and tries to assess the situation and play accordingly. Also says that they want to play a positive brand of cricket and at the same time, want to be smart. Feels grateful for how it has been going for him in the last couple of months. Reckons that it is about backing the options once you get the feel of the wicket. Ends by saying that the wicket played well and is happy to end on the positive side of the result.

Presentation Time...

Earlier in the game, after being asked to bat first, posted the highest-ever total in ODI World Cup history courtesy of twin hundreds from Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram's fastest-ever ODI World Cup century. David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen also displayed their power-hitting abilities. Dilshan Madushanka managed to pick up a couple of wickets while Kasun Rajitha, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Dunith Wellalage chipped in with one each. While chasing, Sri Lanka also took full advantage of the pitch but, their batters only managed three fifties in response to the three hundreds from their opponents which ultimately proved to be the difference in the end.

South Africa, on the other hand, will be happy with their bowling effort but their fielding was not at all up to standards. They are known for that but will need to improve a lot as they got away here because they had a huge total to defend. Marco Jansen set the tone for them by getting rid of Pathum Nissanka on his very first delivery. After that, they took a pasting from Kusal Mendis but it was Jansen again who got the breakthrough as he got Kusal Perera out. Just after the Powerplay, Kagiso Rabada provided with the huge wicket of Mendis and the importance of that was visible in the celebrations. Keshav Maharaj bowled brilliantly in the middle overs and kept the runs in check while also getting a wicket. Gerald Coetzee also got a couple of wickets. Charith Asalanka was proving to be a thorn but Lungi Ngidi removed him to put the Proteas in pole position. Maharaj then went on to dismiss the opposition skipper while the Lankan tail wagged for a bit long, Coetzee and Rabada finished the job for the Proteas.

Despite losing both openers for low scores, Sri Lanka got off to a flier with Kusal Mendis only dealing with sixes and punishing the pacers. He registered a counter-attacking half-century in just 25 balls and when he was batting, it looked like he would make a match out of this. However, after building a decent enough stand with Sadeera Samarawickrama, both of them were dismissed in quick succession and they had to rebuild again. After that, Charith Asalanka did step up and scored a gritty 79 off 65 balls but with the required rate creeping up and no real support from the other end, he too perished. The Lankan batters could not capitalise on the chances that were given to them by their opponents. Still, their skipper showed more fight towards the end and registered another gritty fifty while Kasun Rajitha also played a quick cameo. However, that only managed to get them past the 300-run mark and narrowed the margin, but in the end, they still fell short by 102 runs.

Now, that is how you want to start your World Cup campaign! South Africa have brushed aside Sri Lanka by a huge margin of 102 runs although, they could have finished the job way earlier. The Lankans tried their best to put up a fight but they needed something really special for which unfortunately did not happen for them.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! All over for Sri Lanka! Hurls it on the of stump line with a scrambled seam, Matheesha Pathirana clears his front leg and goes for a mighty heave to hit it over the bowler. Misses it altogether and sees the ball crash into the off and middle stump. Kagiso Rabada finishes with two wickets. South Africa win by 102 runs!

Pacy delivery, on a length, in the channel on off, Matheesha Pathirana stays leg side and looks to use the pace of the ball but misses out.

Takes pace off and bangs it in short, near the tramline on off, Matheesha Pathirana reaches out to ramp it over the keeper but misses.

On a yorker length, at the toes, Matheesha Pathirana backs away and digs it out back to the bowler.

Angling in, full and on middle and leg, Matheesha Pathirana gets behind the line and keeps it out on the off side.

FOUR! Proper tailender shot! Fullish delivery, honing in at the stumps, Dilshan Madushanka tries to drive down the ground. Gets an outside edge that flies over backward point for a boundary.

Full and sliding on the pads, Dilshan Madushanka misses the clip and gets hit on the front pad.

Dilshan Madushanka is the last man in.