South Africa vs Sri Lanka, 4th Match at Delhi, World Cup 2023, Oct 07 2023 - Match Result

Not the perfect game but a hugely entertaining one. South Africa have stepped up big time in their opener. Sri Lanka had their moments but will need bigger pushes if they are to go big without a few key players. Anyway, all teams apart from India and Australia have played a game now. Big one, as Sambit Bal writes. Hope to see you for it. For now, goodbye from me, Ekanth, my report-writing co-commentator, Madushka Balasuriya, and our scorers, Chandan Duorah and Thilak Ram.

Temba Bavuma, South Africa captain: Happy. We wanted to win and did that. As a batter, nothing to find fault in. Asked for a clinical performance with ball. Didn't get that but individual performances were good. Probably a blessing in disguise that we lost the toss. Ball came on to the bat better when the lights came on. The point was to adjust with the conditions today. We had a certain perception, thought it'd be a bit more variable but it didn't. Probably didn't adjust early enough, to their main batter being Mendis. Kesh took the pace off and was very good. Maybe need to add spin options, these are the learnings we have to take. Challenge would be adapting there again. Quinton will be fine, didn't field but will be fine.

Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka captain: I expected a high-scoring game. Rassie, Quinny, Markram got great hundreds. We were missing lengths regularly, execution wasn't good. When we play again, we need to change that. We expected to keep them to 350-370, we thought it'd be manageable given Asalanka and Mendis' form but we couldn't deal with the extra runs. Tough one to manage things while missing three key bowlers. But you know that's part of the game. I'm happy with the positive intent with bat; first ten overs with ball was good too. Need to sharpen up for the next game.

Aiden Markram, POTM: Says his fastest WC ODI ton makes him feels fantastic. That it comes off some days, doesn't on others. That it's fantastic today. I know what's expected of me as a batter. We're marrying being positive with being smart. Great how it's coming together in the last 12 months. Initially, you want to get a feel for the wicket and find out the options you can take and then back it, regardless of the result, and trying things out that may not be in your repertoire. Wicket played well, ball travelled, was an entertaining game. Nice to be on the right side of the result. Really happy with how it went tonight.

Mustafa Moudi : "So far in the first 4 matches of the edition have alternative results - Chasing sides won the 1st and 3rd ODI while Defending sides won the 2nd and the 4th Match !!"

M.: "Great fight by SL. Only difference was the 3 batters who got 50's for SA converted to 100's whereas SL's 3 batters with 50's couldn't convert here."

10:17pm A 102-run win. Margin might be smaller than what South Africa would've expected a while ago. But Shanaka's 68 dragged the innings further, so did Rajitha's cameo. Some mitigation comes from the fact that 754 runs were scored in the 94.5 overs today and that all of South Africa's bowlers struck. Mendis was exceptional in the powerplay, he kept going despite Jansen getting both openers in the phase. The pick-up shots were a treat. But he fell, tickling a cut off Rabada to the keeper. Coetzee and Maharaj then chipped in to put Sri Lanka under deeper pressure. But the last five wickets cost South Africa 176 runs. Shanaka found some form as well. South Africa, hence, didn't get as big a net-run-rate spike but still managed a win over a hundred runs.

Rabada back

Back over the wicket. Slip in

Abdullah : "At least SL kept the fall of NRR in check. "

Andy C: "So far 30 sixes in the match is only 3 behind the World Cup record of 33 (Eng v Afghan Manchester 2019)" Right? Yes. 33 is the highest, says Sampath

Jansen at long stop