Record breakers: South Africa make more history at Cricket World Cup

Arampant South Africa continue to shatter records with their big-hitting and huge totals, but the Proteas’ attack has also set new benchmarks during an imperious run at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

South Africa have looked like the strongest challengers to hosts India so far with six victories from seven matches to all but lock in their spot in the semi-finals at the Cricket World Cup.

Much of this success has been powered by an explosive batting unit led by opener Quinton de Kock and a destructive middle-order that have combined for record-breaking totals, while pacer Marco Jansen has often ensured the opposition are on the ropes early in their chase.

Here are the latest jaw-dropping records that South Africa have smashed during their surge through the Cricket World Cup:

82: Team sixes in a Cricket World Cup
South Africa now hold the record for the most sixes clubbed by a team in one edition of a Men's Cricket World Cup, even with at least two - and as many as four - matches still to play.

The Proteas smashed 15 sixes in their comprehensive victory over New Zealand to now have 82 at the tournament from seven matches.

South Africa have already passed the previous record of 76 that England hit in 11 matches on the way to their breakthrough Cricket World Cup title in 2019.

West Indies held the record before that with 68 team sixes in 2015, while the all-conquering Australia outfit struck 67 in 2007.

The five-time champions are on track to finish higher in this list during the current Cricket World Cup, after hitting 61 sixes in six matches so far and with at least three more to play.

12: Wickets taken in the Powerplay
All-rounder Marco Jansen made his mark early in the tournament with a quickfire 75* against England, but has done just as much damage with the ball while powering South Africa’s fast starts.

The left-arm quick has claimed 12 scalps during the Powerplay to ensure South Africa take command early in the opposition innings, to have more than double the next best bowler.

Pace has proven to be the key weapon in the opening 10 overs with Sri Lanka’s Dilshan Madushanka taking six wickets during the Powerplay, while Australia’s Josh Hazlewood (five) is just ahead of India’s Jasprit Bumrah, Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi and injured England quick Reece Topley (all four).

Jansen struck twice in the Powerplay against New Zealand and finished with 3/31, to now have the equal-most wickets at the Cricket World Cup with Australia spinner Adam Zampa and Afridi also on 16.

4: Individual hundreds in a Cricket World Cup
De Kock started the tournament with back-to-back tons against Sri Lanka and Australia, and has since added two more including 114 against New Zealand in another dominant display.

The South Africa opener also has the highest individual score at this Cricket World Cup so far with 174 against Bangladesh.

De Kock’s four centuries are now equal-second for the most hundreds scored in a single edition of the showpiece event, alongside Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakarra in 2015.

India opener and current captain Rohit Sharma holds the record with five hundreds in 2019, but the in-form de Kock will like his chances of at least reaching that mark with two - and possibly four - innings still to come.

8: Team hundreds in a Cricket World Cup
With de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen both compiling centuries against New Zealand, the Proteas have equalled the record for the most hundreds across a team at a Cricket World Cup.

The South Africa batting line-up will now have at least two more matches to claim the record on their own from the Sri Lanka outfit that hit the mark in 2015.

De Kock leads the way with four tons, while van der Dussen started the tournament with 108 in South Africa’s opener against Sri Lanka to now have two centuries.

Aiden Markram clubbed the then-fastest hundred at a Cricket World Cup when reaching a century from 49 balls against Sri Lanka, while Heinrich Klaasen later punished England with a rapid 109.

2: Double-century partnerships at Cricket World Cups
De Kock and van der Dussen combined for a 200-run stand against New Zealand that ensured South Africa took a stranglehold on the heavyweight clash.

It was the second double-century partnership between the pair at this tournament after they amassed 204 against Sri Lanka, to now have the equal-most 200-plus run stands.

Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga also combined for a pair of 200-plus run partnerships in 2011, while no other duo has hit the milestone more than once even across multiple Cricket World Cups.

545: Individual runs in a Cricket World Cup
De Kock’s hot streak has the South Africa opener breaking batting records for the most runs scored at a Cricket World Cup.

The in-form left-hander has the most runs after seven innings at a single edition of the tournament with 545.

De Kock’s tally has also surpassed Jacques Kallis’s mark of 485 in 2007 for the most runs scored by a South African batter at a Cricket World Cup.

With two matches left for South Africa in the group stage, and likely more in the knockout stage, de Kock can now eye India great Sachin Tendulkar’s record for the most runs in a Cricket World Cup with 673 in 2003.

4: 350-plus team totals in a Cricket World Cup
South Africa have become the first team to score four 350-plus scores in a single Cricket World Cup, after plundering runs against Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh and New Zealand. 

The Proteas have now pass the lofty mark nine times in all Cricket World Cups, the equal-most in the tournament’s history along with Australia. (ICC)