The game’s fate seemed sealed during the first half as South Africa achieved a historic milestone by posting the highest score ever in World Cup history. Notably, three South African batters notched centuries, with Markram securing the fastest ODI century in World Cup cricket. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, faced an uphill battle. To compete, they needed significant contributions from at least two of their top five batters.
Initially, Sri Lanka showed promise, courtesy of Kusal Mendis’ explosive 42-ball 76, featuring four boundaries and eight sixes. After 12 overs, they were at 107/2. However, their momentum was disrupted with the loss of two quick wickets in successive overs. While Asalanka and Shanaka both achieved half-centuries, their efforts only served to narrow the margin of defeat. Despite displaying flashes of brilliance, Sri Lanka struggled to capitalize on critical opportunities throughout the match, primarily due to the mounting pressure of the required run rate. Ultimately, South Africa’s supremacy prevailed, leaving Sri Lanka lamenting missed chances.
