South Africa vs Sri Lanka LIVE: Updates as record Cricket World Cup score posted

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Aiden Markram smashed a 49-ball hundred, the fastest in the history of the men’s 50-overs World Cup, as South Africa’s rampaging top order helped them thrash Sri Lanka by 102 runs in their tournament opener on Saturday.

There was some brutal batting at the Arun Jaitley Stadium where three of South Africa’s top four batters smashed rapid hundreds to help them rack up a tournament record total of 428-5.

Quinton de Kock struck 100 and Rassie van der Dussen hammered 108 but both were overshadowed by Markram’s incendiary 106 off 54 balls. Markram eclipsed Ireland batter Kevin O’Brien’s 50-ball century against England in the 2011 World Cup.

Former champions Sri Lanka were all out for 326 in 44.5 overs after brief fightbacks by Kusal Mendis (76), Charith Asalanka (79) and Dasun Shanaka (68). South Africa’s mammoth score replaced Australia’s 417-6 against Afghanistan in 2015 as the highest total in the men’s World Cup.

Follow all the latest live coverage of today's match in the live blog below and get the latest Cricket World Cup odds here:

South Africa vs Sri Lanka LIVE: ODI World Cup updates

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

0.3

Kasun Rajitha to Quinton de Kock. Length ball, to leg on the front foot defending, to mid off for no runs, fielded by Pathiranage.

7 October 2023 09:34

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

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NEW BALL. Kasun Rajitha to Quinton de Kock. Back of a length, down leg side on the back foot defending, to short mid wicket for no runs, fielded by Silva.

7 October 2023 09:33

[7 October 2023 09:29 · Karl Matchett]

India star Shubman Gill a doubt for World Cup opener after falling sick

India may have to play without Shubman Gill in their first game of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 as the star opener is reportedly suffering from a fever that could be dengue.

Gill, 24, missed team training sessions on Wednesday and Thursday at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, the venue for India’s campaign opener against Australia this weekend.

While it is still not confirmed if Gill will miss the blockbuster match-up set to be held with the Australian side on Sunday, the Indian team management is closely monitoring his progress.

[7 October 2023 09:26 · Karl Matchett]

Pakistan kick off Cricket World Cup campaign with victory over enterprising Netherlands

Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel hit identical half-centuries in an otherwise underwhelming batting effort in their World Cup opener against the Netherlands on Friday, before the bowlers sealed a routine 81-run win for the 1992 champions.

Faced with an achievable target of 287, the Dutch looked on course for a stunning win in Hyderabad at one stage as Vikramjit Singh (52) and Bas de Leede (67) got going, but Pakistan kept chipping away to dismiss the underdogs for 205 in 41 overs.

[7 October 2023 09:23 · Karl Matchett]

He’s not Superman – Mark Wood insists England cannot put pressure on Ben Stokes

Mark Wood has warned England not to rely on their injured “Messiah” Ben Stokes to ride to the rescue after a punishing start to their World Cup defence.

The 2019 champions were roundly thrashed by New Zealand in the tournament opener in Ahmedabad, going down by nine wickets as Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra shared an unbroken stand of 273.

Stokes, the hero of the Lord’s final four years ago and newly back in the ODI fold after reversing his retirement, missed out with a left hip problem and cut a frustrated figure as he watched on from the dugout.

Details of the Test captain’s fitness are sparse but he has struggled with a longstanding left knee problem in recent years and has already been ruled out as a bowling option in the World Cup to ease the load on his body.

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

Teams will be announced at the toss

6 October 2023 09:31

South Africa vs Sri Lanka

Follow live coverage of South Africa vs Sri Lanka from the ODI World Cup today.

The ICC Test Championship sees nine teams compete across a two-year cycle of matches before a two-team final decides the winner. The inaugural competition was won by New Zealand after a thrilling victory over India in June 2021.

The 50-over World Cup is far older and has been competed for since back in 1975. Australia are the record winners having run out victorious on five occasions (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2015). England took the 2019 crown after a dramatic Ben Stokes-inspired super-over win over New Zealand at Lord's.

The shortest form of the game sees teams compete in Twenty20. The newest format has been an instant global hit with a number of hugely-lucrative competitions massively popular all over the world. Australia are reigning world champions having taken victory in the 2021 tournament.

Follow all the latest live coverage of today's match in the live blog below:

6 October 2023 09:30