Glenn Maxwell scored the fastest World Cup century in 40 balls, propelling Australia to a 399/8 victory over the Netherlands in Delhi. Earlier, a hundred David Warner and half-centuries from Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne established the foundation.
Maxwell’s century was also the fourth fastest in ODIs, surpassing Aiden Markram’s feat at the same venue by nine balls. It was Warner’s 22nd ODI century and sixth in World Cups, tying him with Sachin Tendulkar and trailing only Rohit Sharma (7 hundred).
Maxwell’s innings, which included nine fours and eight sixes, came after Australia had lost two wickets in two balls, including that of a well-set Warner. After walking out to bat in the 40th over, Maxwell took little time to get going, scoring back-to-back boundaries off Bas de Leede. He got to fifty off 27 balls but hit another gear, relishing the freedom of batting in the final four overs of the innings with a substantial score already on the board, reports Live Cricket Score.
Maxwell faced right-arm medium pacers for most of his deliveries and could line them up on a flat track with his reverse sweeps, switch hits, and slogs around the ground. The only hiccup while he was out was Cameron Green being run out on the second run by a brilliant throw from Sybrand Engelbrecht.
Earlier in the day, Warner set the tone for his team by hitting four boundaries in the third over of the innings, bowled by an otherwise faultless Aryan Dutt. Even though Mitchell Marsh miscued a pull against Logan van Beek and fell early, Smith and Warner kept ticking runs as Australia totalled 66/1 after the first PowerPlay. Warner scored his fifty off 40 balls, and Smith scored his off 53 balls as the pair added 122 runs for the second wicket.
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