Glenn Maxwell took 40 balls to smash the fastest hundred in the history of the 50-over World Cup as Australia raced to a 309-run win over the Netherlands — the second-highest winning margin in men’s ODIs.
Opener David Warner struck 104, his second successive hundred of the tournament, but it was Maxwell’s 106 off 44 balls that took Australia to 399 for eight after captain Pat Cummins had won the toss and elected to bat in Delhi.
Steve Smith (71) and Marnus Labuschagne (62) also made half-centuries against the inexperienced Dutch attack but Maxwell simply feasted on them, smacking eight sixes and nine fours.
Less than three weeks ago South Africa’s Aiden Markram broke the previous record, held for 12 years by Ireland’s Kevin O’Brien, when he hit a 49-ball century against Sri Lanka, but Maxwell comfortably outstripped that effort on the same ground.
His 40-ball century is also the fastest by an Australian in all ODI cricket and the fourth-fastest of all-time — AB de Villiers, the former South Africa batsman, holds that record (31 balls). Bas de Leede — two for 115 from his ten overs — came in for the worst treatment, making his figures the most expensive in ODI history.
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“That was not something I set out to do, it was just situation of the game,” Maxwell said. “I wanted to put a good platform for the back end and cash in on this ground, the ball can run away quite quickly. It was nice to get in rhythm.
“I gave myself a little bit of time and a bit of confidence and a platform. It’s a huge confidence booster knowing I’ve got that in my locker. Doubts can creep in when you’re not scoring consistently.
“This was close to the perfect game if you score 400 and bowl them out for under 100. A lot of guys got to have a hit. We’ve had three really good wins in a row.”
The Netherlands chase never really got going, Adam Zampa cleaning up the tail to finish with four for eight. Mitchell Marsh claimed two wickets while there was one apiece for Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Cummins as Australia strengthened their hold on fourth spot in the standings — making England’s hopes of reaching the final four all the more remote.
