JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<div class="grid-container">
    <span class="contained-cell"> text text text </span>
    <span class="contained-cell"> text text text </span>
    <span class="contained-cell"> text text text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text xt text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text </span>
    <span class="contained-cell"> text text text </span>
    <span class="contained-cell"> text text text </span>
    <span class="contained-cell"> text text text text text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text text </span>
    <span class="contained-cell"> text text text </span>
    <span class="contained-cell"> text text texttexttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext exttext text texttext text texttexttexttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text t text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext</span>
    <span class="contained-cell"> text text text </span>
    <span class="contained-cell"> text text text text text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text texttext text text </span>
</div>

CSS

.grid-container {
    display: flex;
    flex-direction: column;
    flex-wrap: wrap;
    /* justify-content:space-between; */
    /* height:auto; */
    height:700px;
    overflow-y:scroll;
    background-color: whitesmoke;
}

.contained-cell {
    margin: 5px;
    padding: 20px;
    width: calc(50% - 50px - 2px); /* width less margin less border */
    border: 1px solid #ccc;
    background-color: lightgreen;
    box-sizing: border-box;
}