The mentality of the fastest Cricket World Cup century-maker
Markram’s brilliant effort was South Africa’s third ton in their 428/5, the highest total ever scored at an ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, and the classy left-hander spoke afterward about the mindset behind his phenomenal feat in Delhi on Saturday.
South Africa batter Aiden Markram clubbed the fastest ton in ICC Men's Cricket World Cup history to set up victory over Sri Lanka
“It was a strange one, I certainly didn't wake up this morning thinking today would turn out that way,” Markram said.
“But I gave a couple of balls upfront to get a feel of the wicket and eventually realised, watching Quinny and Rassie (Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen) bat and having that initial feel, that it was a really good wicket.
“The outfield was really fast, so value for shots is always there. And that's almost what I was thinking the whole time; that if you're setting up to hit really strong, hard cricket shots, the outfield and the pitch helps you out quite a lot as well. So it worked.
“Luckily, tonight, balls hit gaps. They don't always hit gaps, and it could be a different story. But I’m thankful it worked out that way and again it was a really good pitch so that definitely assisted.”
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This match was only the fourth time in a men’s ODI that three players have brought up centuries in the same innings.
De Kock and Van der Dussen laid the platform before Markram’s heroics, and he explained that the attacking mindset was partly planned and due to the batting-friendly nature of the surface.
“I think you do a lot of planning and stuff like that before the game. I think it's natural for most teams to speculate how conditions are going to play, especially South Africans coming over to India.
“Then I think you get out there, and the wicket starts playing really well, and it's initially a big sigh of relief.
“Then secondly I think a lot of instinct does take over and sort of see-ball, hit-ball sort of mentality.
"So marrying the two of them I suppose is quite crucial, but we're thankful that we got a belter of a wicket there tonight.”
Match Highlights as batters had a field day while as South Africa defeated Sri Lanka in a high-scoring ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 clash in Delhi
Markram’s celebration upon reaching his hundred with an enormous six was packed full of emotion.
The 29-year-old said it was almost an out-of-body experience when he leapt into the air.
“It's quite strange because you almost get this thing that just takes over your body at certain moments. I think there's a lot of passion in this team to give our absolute all at this World Cup and see how far it can get us.
“We're known to start pretty slowly, be it in a series or maybe world events and things like that, so we put a lot of emphasis on today's game; to start well and play the same cricket we've been playing that's managed to sneak us into this comp.
“So I think it's all of those emotions sort of mixed up and building up. That sort of just comes out and a lot of pride naturally for the three of us as well.”
Markram's South Africa will return to World Cup action in a massive fixture on Thursday when they face Australia in Lucknow.