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. (Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Toby Davis)
In other action, all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored a half-century and took three wickets as Bangladesh got their Cricket World Cup campaign off to a solid start with a six-wicket victory over Afghanistan in Dharamsala.
Having won the toss and elected to field, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan put his side in the driving seat by claiming three key wickets, while Mehidy (3-25) mopped up the tail. Rahmanullah Gurbaz top-scored for Afghanistan with 47.
Mehidy then played a significant part in Bangladesh's reply with 57 off 73 balls as the 2015 quarter-finalists chased down their target of 157 in 34.4 overs.
Bangladesh's chase got off to a rocky start, with both openers departing early to leave them on 27-2. Mehidy's arrival steadied the ship, but the 25-year-old benefited from a touch of fortune when he was dropped by Najibullah Zadran on 16 runs.
Mehidy and Najmul Hossain Shanto (59 not out) combined for 97, and though Rahmat Shah pulled off a spectacular one-handed catch to end Mehidy's knock, the damage was done as Bangladesh eased to victory.
Reuters.
