World Cup 2023: Australia ride on Glenn Maxwell's 44-ball 106 to earn record 309-run win against Netherlands
It was a third successive win for Pat Cummins and Co, further solidifying their position in the top four
Despite defeats in their first two matches of the ongoing ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, not many ruled-out the possibility of Australia making it to the semi-finals. After all, they’re five-time champions and have a squad that’s loaded with match-winners. In Delhi, on Wednesday, they showed just how devastating they can be with a record-breaking 309-run victory against Netherlands. It was a third successive win for Pat Cummins and Co, further solidifying their position in the top four.
In terms of men’s ODI World Cups, this was the biggest-ever victory by runs. In terms of men’s ODI cricket overall, this was the second-biggest victory by runs, behind India’s 317-run win against Sri Lanka in January this year.
For the second game in a row, it was David Warner who stole the show at the top of the order. After scoring 163 runs against Pakistan, the left-hander registered his second successive century. But what would have probably pleased Australia more was the performance of some of their other key batters.
Opting to bat first, the Aussies posted a massive total of 399/8 to all but seal the outcome of the match. While Warner set the tone with his strokeplay, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschange got half-centuries in the middle order. However, the highlight of the innings was a stunning 40-ball ton by Glenn Maxwell down the order. It was the fastest century in men’s ODI World Cup history.
In reply, Netherlands, who had done well to beat high-flying South Africa earlier in the tournament, never got going in the chase and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa was the pick of the bowlers for Australia, with sensational figures of 4/8 from just three overs, as the Dutch were bowled-out for 90 runs in 21 overs. Zampa’s effort helped him take the lead in the list of highest wicket-takers at this World Cup.
Earlier, Australia decided to give Travis Head some more time to settle in and didn’t include him in the playing XI. Mitchell Marsh, who has taken Head’s place as opener, fell early but that didn’t stop Warner from going hard and putting his team in the driver’s seat. The 36-year-old had started the tournament slowly but seems to be at his best now. His knock of 104 runs was his sixth century in ODI World Cups and tied him with second-placed Sachin Tendulkar on the all-time list, behind India captain Rohit Sharma who has seven.
Smith, another senior pro in the lineup, had scored just 72 runs in the first four games and looked a shadow of himself. Against Netherlands, though, he got some much-needed time in the middle and scored a well-compiled 71 off 48 balls to keep the scoreboard ticking. Labuschange, too, had been struggling for fluency but played with aggression this time to return with a 47-ball 62.
But then came the main act. It was the third ball of the 41st over when Maxwell took strike for the first time. Australia were 273/5 at that point and it seemed they would get to 350. But little did everyone inside the Arun Jaitley Stadium know that they were about to witness something truly special.
Maxwell, in his own words, had snapped his leg in half in a freak accident late last year. He had spent months on the sidelines but for the World Cup, Australia had always hoped the hard-hitting right-hander would be fit and raring to go. The 35-year-old managed to score 49 runs in his first three innings before getting out for a duck in the last match against Pakistan. But against Netherlands, he reminded the world just how brutal he can be with a knock that included nine fours and eight sixes.
Maxwell was batting on 35 off 21 before he truly cut loose, scoring 66 runs off the next 19 balls he faced. He hit Bas de Leede for 26 runs in five balls to bring up his century as Australia killed the contest with their death-overs hitting.
Later, Vikramjit Singh and Max ODowd added 28 runs for the first wicket, which ended up being Netherlands’ biggest partnership on the night. They lost their last five wicket for a mere six runs as Zampa ran riot by continuing to bowl with great confidence.
