Australia made a statement with their 309-run win over the Netherlands on Wednesday in World Cup 2023. Glenn Maxwell, aka the ‘Big Show’, was not far behind in making a statement of his own with a record knock of 106 from just 44 balls. If you are wondering how a victory for the five-time champions against supposedly the weakest team in the tournament and how a century for one of the deadliest middle-order batters against bowlers largely unknown is a statement then we would be doing a big disservice to the Dutch side which has been matching the giants toe-to-toe in each department this World Cup before it all unravelled at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
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Before Australia smashed 399/8 and registered a record 309-run victory — the biggest-ever win by runs in ODI World Cup history, the most runs the Netherlands had conceded in the 2023 tournament was 322 against New Zealand at the batting-friendly Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. It was the Netherlands’ bowling that had helped them beat South Africa earlier and caused the biggest upset in the ongoing World Cup.
Even on Wednesday, David Warner paced his century knock of 104 off 93 balls to perfection and half-centuries from Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne laid the foundation for the Aussies, but they were still only 268/5 after 40 overs, with the run rate under 7. What happened in the next 10 overs was a ‘freak show’ from the Big Show who lit up the stadium with his mind-boggling blitzkrieg as the Indian fans in the stands had their money’s worth.
Australia scored 131 runs in the last 10 overs. Maxwell, who only walked in to bat in the 39th over and was on 0 at the start of the 41st over, made 106 out of those 131 runs. Just to underline the freakishness of his knock, at 39.1 overs, Maxwell’s entry point is the latest entry point for a batter who has gone on to make a hundred in ODIs.
His 40-ball century is the fastest in the ODI World Cup, breaking Aiden Markram’s record which was made just three weeks ago. It’s also the fastest ODI century for Australia.
The moment Maxwell exploded
The 35-year-old was quick off the blocks getting to 35 runs in 21 balls but it was a four that he hit in the 46th over when he truly unlocked his potential on the night. Pacer Paul van Meekeren went full but missed his spot and Maxwell reverse-swept it to the third man as Shane Watson yelled “outrageous” on the air. The next ball went for a pull shot six and the next over from Bas de Leede brought more carnage.
A confident Maxwell manufactured another reverse switch hit, this time for a maximum and his half-century. You wouldn’t believe it, two balls later, he went back to the same for another six and the wheels came off for the Netherlands.
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With a jam-packed legside field, the Dutch bowlers had planned to force Maxwell to play off his pads, but the Australian showed that field setups and restrictions have never been a deterrent for him. Maxwell came in the match with scores of 15, 3, 31*, and 0 and while he had been contributing with his off-spin, he brought his forte to the front at Delhi, a venue where he has played a lot of IPL cricket.
And mind you, there’s a method to his madness.
“I think [it hinges on] getting a read on the bowler, the types of change-ups they’re using,” Maxwell said explaining his reverse sweeps. “Even if they’re banging it into the wicket I feel like I’ve got enough time to adapt and change the position of where I want to hit it.
“If they do bowl quick I know I’ve just got to get my hands through a little bit faster. I suppose it’s just setting up for the field and trying to play it as well as I can. Every now and then I get lucky enough it goes for six, but I’m generally just trying to get it over the in-field.”
Once the reverse sweep or switch hit was in place, Maxwell unleashed more mayhem. The Royal Challengers Bangalore batter took 26 balls to get to his fifty but only 14 more to get to his hundred as he celebrated in front of his wife Vini Raman and son Logan who was born just last month. Australia who were 340/6 at the end of 47 overs added 59 more in the last three.
Australia continue to rise
The Maxwell whirlwind hit the Dutch side so badly that they were bowled out for just 90 — the lowest total in this World Cup. The previous lowest for the Netherlands in the ongoing tournament was 205 against Pakistan.
Adam Zampa was the wrecker-in-chief in the second innings with four wickets for just 8 runs, his third consecutive four-wicket haul. Australia meanwhile have now won three matches on a trot and are fourth on the points table.
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“It’s the World Cup and we are in a good space,” skipper Pat Cummins said after the crucial win.
It’s exactly the sort of momentum Australia needed after two straight losses at the start, but the manner in which they have recovered, the manner in which Maxwell fired and demolished the Dutch in Delhi, one can safely say the heavyweights have arrived.
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