Adding another feather to his glorious career, stylish right-handed batter Aiden Markram on Saturday slammed the fastest century in Men’s Cricket World Cup history as South Africa posted a mammoth total of 428/5 in 50 overs against Sri Lanka, the highest total ever in the competition.
The 29-year-old Markram, who came to bat No. 4, brought up his hundred with a huge six off Dilshan Madushanka, reaching the milestone off just 49 deliveries.
Markram’s impressive century beat the previous record for the fastest CWC century, which was held by Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien against England in 2011, by one delivery. The right-handed batter departed after scoring a blistering 106 from 54, that featured three sixes and 14 fours, with a strike rate of 196.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s huge total of 428/5 also set a new record for the highest-ever total at a Men’s Cricket World Cup, surpassing the previous best of 417/6 by Australia against Afghanistan in Perth in 2015.
Not only Markram, Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen also took Sri Lankan bowlers to cleaners and hit brilliant centuries. De Kock was first to the milestone, departing for 100 from 84 balls, before Van der Dussen scored 108 from 110.
And the hat-trick of centuries — for the first time in Men’s Cricket World Cup history — equalled the record for the most in a men’s ODI innings. This was just the fourth occasion that the feat has been achieved, following on from England in 2022 and South Africa twice in 2015.
✅ The fastest century in Men's World Cup history
✅ The highest innings total in Men's World Cup historyAll the records to fall from South Africa's outstanding #CWC23 performance against Sri Lanka ⬇https://t.co/2pAvTldQIY
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) October 7, 2023
Overall, the tons from De Kock, Van der Dussen and Markram helped South Africa move beyond a total of 400 — the first time such a mammoth score has been made in this tournament and just the fifth time in men’s Cricket World Cup history.
Sri Lankan batting line also have that firepower but they have a massive target in front of them in their ODI World Cup 2023 campaign opener at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
