Delhi delight for imperious Proteas
Delhi turned out to be a delightful first stop for the Proteas batters, whose precision and power delivered smiles, records and a 102-run victory against Sri Lanka to start the World Cup.
The Indian capital was a steaming cauldron yesterday, with the temperature raised even more on an injury-hampered Sri Lankan bowling line-up that had no answers once South Africa had assessed conditions, and the balls softened.
Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram all made their first World Cup hundreds, to underline the potency of this Proteas batting line-up. The final total of 428/5 was the eighth occasion in which South Africa had registered a total in excess of 400 in ODIs, and the second time they had done so in the last three matches they have played.
Theirs is a strategy that combines careful examination of conditions, patience and then the dynamism of a majestic middle order to demolish the opposition.
Temba Bavuma, who made just eight and was out in the second over, explained in the build-up how the thrilling hitting of Markram, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller could only work if the top order provided a solid foundation. Yesterday’s platform was substantial.
De Kock’s teammates have described his attitude since he announced that this tournament would be his last in ODIs as having an edge to it. The celebrations of his century suggested that was the case.
This innings was special to De Kock, whose record in ICC tournaments had been poor compared to his overall career statistics. He averaged just 30 across the previous two World Cups he’s played, and until yesterday had scored just four half-centuries.
The patience he and Van der Dussen showed in the first half of the South African innings was exemplary. There was no fancy shotmaking and a scoring rate of over six runs an over was achieved with little stress.
The only issue was the heat, which ultimately accounted for both of them; De Kock mis-timing a pull and Van der Dussen deceived by a slower ball. However, by that stage, the bulk of their work was done.
De Kock’s acceleration saw him move from 50 to 100 in just 22 balls while Van der Dussen’s “anchor” innings still saw him score at a strike rate just shy of 100. “It was nearly perfect from us,” Van der Dussen, who scored 108, said at the interval between innings.
Markram’s was a princely contribution that started with a series of sumptuous drives, through the covers straight down the ground, some in the air and others along the ground. He left the Sri Lankans in no doubt about the name of the company that makes his bats such was the straightness of his blade. His hundred, scored off 49 balls, was the fastest in a World Cup, eclipsing the 50 Irishman Kevin O’Brien needed when he beat England in 2011. The Proteas total was a World Cup record too, as was the number of centurions in the innings.
It was a statement performance. They had come into the tournament somewhat under the radar, but that will no longer be the case.
There’ll be a few questions asked of the bowlers who wore frowns amid a stunning assault from Kusal Mendis at the start of Sri Lanka’s reply. The stocky right-hander blasted eight sixes in an innings of 72, off just 48 balls. Although the batters had given them more than enough wiggle room and the surface, despite the assistance for the new ball, was a batting paradise, SA’s bowlers will be disappointed with their inconsistency.
In particular, the execution of the short ball left a lot to be desired, with too many freebies dished up to the Sri Lankan middle order.
Given that those problems also arose in the series against Australia, special attention needs to be paid to it this week ahead of the meeting with Pat Cummins’ team on Thursday.