Glenn Maxwell’s fastest World Cup century off 40 balls and 104 by David Warner led Australia to a record ICC Cricket World Cup 309-run rout of the Netherlands at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Wednesday for their third straight victory of the tournament.
Maxwell’s 106 off 44 balls laced with nine fours and eight sixes fired Australia to 399-8, a total their bowlers defended easily as the Dutch were dismissed for just 90 in 21 overs in New Delhi.
Five-time winners Australia bettered their previous margin of World Cup victory — against Afghanistan by 275 runs at Perth in 2015.
ICC World Cup: Schedule | Results | Points Table | Most Runs | Most Wickets
“I’m really happy, that’s just about the complete game. It’s as good as I could have hoped for — to put 400 on the board and defend it, I couldn’t be happier,” said Australia skipper Pat Cummins.
“I think we both contributed equally in that hundred partnership,” Cummins chuckled.
It was records galore on Wednesday as Maxwell’s blitz bettered the record of South Africa’s Aiden Markram who blasted a century off 49 balls against Sri Lanka just 18 days ago at the same venue.
He smashed Bas de Leede for two fours and three sixes on successive balls to achieve the feat before departing in the final over.
Warner, who clubbed 163 last time out against Pakistan, reached his second successive ton off 91 balls with 11 fours and three sixes to set the tone for his team’s dominance.
Warner pulled level with India batting great Sachin Tendulkar with six World Cup centuries, but it was Maxwell who stole the show. Smith scored his first fifty of this edition before he fell for 71 off-spinner Aryan Dutt, but Warner stood firm in another stubborn partnership of 84 with Marnus Labuschagne. Labuschagne raised his fifty before he fell for 62 off Bas de Leede.
“Fantastic innings, the cleanest hitting I’ve seen. We played the style we liked to,” Cummins said.
“Please with Smithy getting runs,” he added.
The Dutch were never in the chase after they lost half their side for 62 runs inside 14 overs.
Opener Vikramjit Singh scored a run-a-ball 25 before being run out by a direct throw from Maxwell.
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa returned with four wickets in his three overs and ended the match with consecutive strikes.
“We were aiming for powerplay wickets, bowled quite well without a lot of luck. Zamps with another four-fer,” Cummins said.
Australia started the tournament with two losses but have bounced back with three victories to consolidate their fourth spot in the 10-team table in the race to the semi-finals.
When asked about their next opponent, Cummins said: “They (New Zealand) are a really good side. Big game in Dharamsala. It’s the World Cup and we are in a good space, can’t wait to get there.”
(With inputs from Agencies)
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