Cricket World Cup 2023: 10 first round highlights you can’t miss

After almost six weeks of huge totals, shock wins, heartbreaking losses, records and controversies, the group stage of the Cricket World Cup came to an end on Sunday.

Ahead of Wednesday’s semi-finals, AFP Sport looks at 10 highlights from the opening round:

– South Africa, Markram in the fast lane –

The tournament was just two days old when South Africa’s Aiden Markram hit the fastest World Cup debut off 49 balls against Sri Lanka in New Delhi.

His team also entered the record books with a record tournament total of 428 in a 102 run victory.

Markram’s blitz bettered the 50 balls needed by Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien to reach 100 against England in Bengaluru in 2011. However, Markram said he “wouldn’t be surprised” if his record was beaten the end of the competition. Glenn Maxwell proved it right just 18 days later.– Track record of Pakistan –

Mohammad Rizwan and Abdullah Shafique made centuries as Pakistan chased the highest target in World Cup history to beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in Hyderabad.

Rizwan overcame leg cramps to score 131 not out while Shafique hit 113 as Pakistan overhauled their 345-run target.

Sri Lanka’s mammoth total of 344-9 was built around brilliant hundreds from Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama.

– Afghanistan, the Netherlands make a mark –

Afghanistan pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the World Cup when they beat defending champions England by 69 runs in New Delhi.

Chasing 285 to win, after opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz hit a blistering 80, England were bowled out for 215 with spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Rashid Khan claiming three wickets each.

Eight days later in Chennai, Afghanistan were chased down for 283 to shock their neighbors in Pakistan with Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah and Gurbaz scoring fifties.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands capitalized on South Africa’s unpopularity by thrashing the Proteas by 38 runs in what the Dutch media described as the “Dharamsala miracle”.

— Maxwell’s record breaker — part 1 –

Maxwell took Markram’s fastest century record in a World Cup when he hit a 41-ball hundred in Australia’s 309-run run from the Netherlands at New Delhi.

Australia made 399-8 before the Dutch were dismissed for 90 in 21 overs.

Maxwell’s ton was also the fastest fourth century in all ODIs. South Africa’s AB de Villiers will lead the way with his 31-ball against the West Indies in Johannesburg in 2015.

– a festival run by Australia, New Zealand –

Australia were bowled out for just five runs by New Zealand in the highest-scoring World Cup match in Dharamsala.

Australia scored 388 as Travis Head top scored with 109 and fellow opener David Warner made 81.

New Zealand fought hard with Rachin Ravindra making 116.

With a total of 771 runs, he was the highest score at the World Cup, beating the 754 scored in South Africa’s win against Sri Lanka earlier in the tournament.

– India adds to Sri Lanka’s problems –

Mohammed Shami took five wickets as Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 55 as India booked a semi-final spot with a mammoth 302-run win in Mumbai.

Sri Lanka’s torturous innings featured five wickets, with both openers falling to golden ducks in pursuit of 358.

– Fakhar fireworks –

Fakhar Zaman made a blistering debut in a rain-soaked and dramatic 21-run win for Pakistan over New Zealand at Bengaluru.

The left-hander smashed 11 sixes and eight boundaries in his 81-ball unbeaten 126 when rain forced a premature end to the match with Pakistan 200-1 after 25.3 overs.

Rachin Ravindra hit his third century of the tournament and Kane Williamson scored 95 to help New Zealand reach 401-6 in 50 balls.

– King Kohli –

Virat Kohli equaled Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 one-day international centuries as India bowled out South Africa for just 83 in a 243-run run with the superstar hailing his achievement as “stuff of dreams”.

On his 35th birthday, Kohli managed to reach the 35th birthday in 119 balls, including 10 fours, at Kolkata’s iconic Eden Gardens which was packed with around 70,000 fans.

It took him 277 innings to score 49 hundreds at this level compared to the more than 450 claimed by Tendulkar, India’s other World Cup winner in 2011.

– Timely controversy –

Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan has been branded “disgraceful” by Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews after he became the first player in 146 years of international cricket to be given a “time out”.

Mathews was deemed out when he failed to strike within the two-minute time limit when he came out to bowl in New Delhi.

Shakib refused to withdraw the appeal.

“I had to make a decision to make sure my team wins,” he said.

— Maxwell’s record breaker — part 2 –

Australian captain Pat Cummins described it as “the greatest one-day innings ever played” as Glenn Maxwell’s brilliant 201 not out guided Australia into the semi-finals with a stunning three-wicket win over Afghanistan in Mumbai.

At 91-7, chasing 292, Australia were staring at victory before Maxwell’s 128-ball innings of 21 fours and 10 sixes became the third batsman to score a World Cup century double.

He reached the mark despite battling back cramps and spasms, which meant he was reduced to leisurely pace and left Afghanistan rue Mujeeb Ur Rahman dropping a simple catch when Maxwell had made just 33.