Australia’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup finals chances have been dealt a handy boost thanks to a 309-run win over the Netherlands in Delhi overnight spurred on by David Warner and Glenn Maxwell centuries.
Warner smashed the 22nd century of his ODI career and second in as many innings before Maxwell notched triple-figures off just 40 deliveries – a World Cup record by an absurd nine balls – as the Australians charged towards the biggest win in World Cup history.
The early dismissal of opener Mitch Marsh was not enough to derail the Australian innings with Warner and Steve Smith surviving a run-out scare to lay on a 132-run partnership before Smith was on his way for 71.
Marnus Labuschagne picked up where Smith left off occupying the bulk of the strike to prolong Warner’s wait for his hundred before being dismissed for 62.
Warner brought up his hundred but was dismissed soon after bringing Maxwell to the crease.
Maxwell put together one of the most dazzling ODI innings in recent memory to propel the Australian total up to 399 and improve the side’s ever-important net run rate.
Logan van Beek took four wickets for the Dutch from his 10 overs whilst Bas de Leede took two and Aryan Dutt claimed the key wicket of Smith.
Mitchell Starc knocked opener Max O’Dowd over early which would prove a sign of things to come with only five Dutch batters reaching double-figures and Vikramjit Singh top-scoring with a run-a-ball 25.
The final five wickets were lost for just six runs as the gulf in class between the side became painfully evident late in the piece.
Adam Zampa took a remarkable 4-for-8 off just three overs with Marsh taking two and the Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood trio taking one each.
Australia are now a win clear of Pakistan and Afghanistan with clashes against New Zealand, England, Afghanistan and Bangladesh still to come.
