Netherlands destroyed by ‘Cyclone Maxwell’. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports editor )
Delhi was rocked by ‘Cyclone Maxwell’ as the hapless Netherlands were reduced to rubble in a one-sided World Cup game that resurrected Australia’s chances of making the top four.
An outrageous show of unbridled aggression from Maxwell tore the Dutch attack to shreds as they raced to the biggest winning margin so far after amassing 399 for 8 and then reducing the shell shocked Netherlands to 90 all out in just 21overs.
Maxwell smashed the fastest century in World Cup history posted only 14 days ago by South African Aiden Markram 100 off 49 balls, scoring 100 off only 40 balls in a breathtaking array of strokeplay all around the wicket.
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The freakish Australian, who has been pretty subdued by his own standards recently, exploded in emphatic fashion to put Australia on course for victory over a team that dismantled South Africa and buried any aspirations the Dutch had of another big scalp.
Earlier, David Warner 104 off 93 balls with3 sixersand 11 fours, Steven Smith 71 off 68 balls and Marnus Labuschagne 62 off 47 balls set the stage for a mammoth Australian total at a rapidpace.
Warner’s 100 and Smith’s and Larbuschagne’s contributions soon paled into insignificance when Maxwell took the stage to take control and set the ground alight with his delightful strokeplay. He bashed and crashed his way to 106 off 44 balls in the end spraying the field with 8 sixers and 9 fours in a unforgettable performance.
In an interview after his whirlwind knock, Maxwell admitted that targeting landmarks like the fastest 50 or the fastest 100 and relative targets has always been at the back of his mind.
“I go out trying to reel these targets in, but sometimes get out attempting to overthink it ” he admits.
If he continues in this vein, look out for fantastic entertainment as the Aussies push their claim for a sixth World Cup.
