It could be the recurring theme in most venues, barring a few. In the opening match New Zealand had effortlessly hunted down England’s 282 in merely 36.2 overs. Despite sloppy batting, Pakistan put on 286 against the Netherlands. The game in Dharmsala apart, this has been a batsmen’s tournament. And it could turn out to be the one for batsmen.
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South Africa’s batsmen accepted the placid surface and the lightning-quick outfield with glee. Quinton de Kock slammed 100 off 84 balls, the silken Aiden Markram blasted 106 off mere 54 balls; by their standards, Rassie van der Dussen registered an exceedingly slow 108 off 110 balls.
Show-stealer Markram
Markram was the show-stealer. Walking out to bat in the 31st over with South Africa already in a strong position, courtesy a 204-run second-wicket partnership between de Kock (100 off 84 balls) and van der Dussen. Justifying claims that he is the heir apparent to AB de Villiers, AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis, he produced a knock that stood out both power and grace, timing and aggression.
He teed off with a sumptuous drive off Shanaka. One over later, he hit a hat-trick of boundaries off Dilshan Madushanka, two of them were an inch-perfect straight drive. Then, hitting a flat six over the square leg off Madushanaka’s bowling, he completed the fastest century in a World Cup, overtaking Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien (50 balls for 100) in the 2011 edition against England. He saved his best for Matheesha Pathrina, hitting three boundaries and one six in the 43rd over.
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The impetus, though, was set by de Kock and van der Dussen. The former took his time to get the eye in, consuming 62 balls for his 50 runs; the next came in only 21 balls. Van der Dussen played his part to perfection, though in the end, he was dissatisfied that he could not meet his self-imposed target of reaching hundred in 90 balls.
Stoic fight
Facing such a monstrous total, Sri Lanka did not surrender meekly. They produced a fight, and piled the pressure on South Africa’s bowlers. Especially Kusal Mendis, who is undoubtedly his country’s best batsman. Picking lengths early, Mendis smoked eight sixes.
Three were struck in a Lungi Ngidi over, and the crowd perhaps sensed a thrilling chase. It was not to be. Rabada, who Mendis had swatted for two sixes, had the last laugh. Thereafter, the South Africans were in the mood of charity. Charith Asalanka, who scored a strokeful 79, was dropped twice on 44 by van der Dussen and on 52 by substitute Andile Phehlukwayo. Marco Jansen was the unlucky bowler on both occasions. Dasun Shanaka, who in his past 20 innings has crossed double figures only six times, also crunched a fifty to fill the night with more boundaries. In the end, Sri Lanka fell behind.
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