OTD: South Africa shines bright at the 2023 World Cup with record-breaking performance

South Africa displayed a dominant performance in their aggressive batting, scoring an impressive total of 428 for 5, the highest ever in a men's ODI World Cup. This surpassed the previous record of 417 for 6 set by Australia against Afghanistan in 2015. What made this innings truly exceptional was the fact that three South African players - Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, and Aiden Markram - all reached centuries, making history as the first time in World Cup history that three batters from the same team achieved centuries in the same innings.

De Kock and Van der Dussen laid a solid foundation with a massive 204-run partnership for the second wicket after the early dismissal of skipper Temba Bavuma. De Kock, playing his last World Cup, looked in sublime form, smashing 100 off 84 balls. Van der Dussen’s equally impressive 108 off 110 balls provided the backbone for South Africa's innings.

The highlight of the Proteas innings, however, was Aiden Markram’s record-breaking century. Markram tore into the Sri Lankan bowling attack, hitting 106 off just 54 deliveries. His century came off just 49 balls, breaking the previous World Cup record of 50 balls set by Kevin O’Brien of Ireland in 2011. Markram’s knock included 14 boundaries and three sixes.

Facing a daunting target of 429, Sri Lanka's response was spirited but ultimately fell short. Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka and captain Dasun Shanaka played crucial knocks, each scoring rapid half-centuries to keep Sri Lanka in the contest. Mendis was particularly aggressive, smashing 76 off 42 balls in an innings filled with eight sixes and four boundaries.

Despite these valiant efforts, Sri Lanka’s chase faltered as they lost wickets at regular intervals. They were eventually bowled out for 326 in 44.5 overs, giving South Africa a comprehensive 102-run victory. Although Sri Lanka fell short of the target, their total combined with South Africa's innings made for a record-breaking match aggregate of 754 runs, the highest in World Cup history​.

This match shattered several records. Besides Markram’s then fastest World Cup century (Glenn Maxwell broke it three weeks later) and South Africa's highest total, it also set the record for the highest run aggregate in a World Cup match. In addition, the match saw an astounding 105 boundaries, the most in a World Cup match.