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In a remarkable cricketing showdown, the five-time world champions, Australia, delivered an extraordinary performance by defeating the Netherlands with an astonishing margin of 309 runs in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, on Wednesday (October 25).
The Aussies exhibited their batting prowess by posting a formidable total of 399 runs while batting first, displaying their exceptional skill and experience. Their dominance extended to the bowling department as well, with the Dutch side being bundled out for a mere 90 runs, underscoring Australia’s all-around cricketing excellence.
The Glenn Maxwell show
While Australian opener David Warner‘s exceptional innings of 104 runs set the stage for their commanding performance, the true star of the match was undoubtedly the dynamic all-rounder Glenn Maxwell. The right-handed batter’s scintillating century, achieved in a mere 40 balls, not only played a pivotal role in propelling his side to their imposing total but also etched his name in history by becoming the fastest centurion in the ODI World Cup history.
Maxwell’s extraordinary knock was studded with nine boundaries and an impressive eight sixes, leaving fans and cricket enthusiasts in awe of his explosive batting mastery. The Kew-born cricketer’s exceptional performance was a testament to his talent and impact on the game, making him a standout player of the match.
Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar couldn’t help but shower effusive praise upon Maxwell for his mesmerizing performance against the Netherlands. Maxwell’s breathtaking display of power-hitting and exceptional stroke play left even cricketing legends like Gavaskar in awe.
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Gavaskar’s love for Maxwell’s reverse hit
Gavaskar expressed his love for the iconic reverse hit, a shot that has become one of Maxwell’s signature strokes and a cricketing spectacle in its own right.
“This one (Reverse hit) has got to be one of the greatest cricketing shots. It’s gone for a six. It should be a 12. The bowling after that got a bit rattled because they just didn’t know where to bowl. It was an incredible effort,” Gavaskar said while speaking to Star Sports.
With a touch of cheekiness, Gavaskar remarked that Maxwell reached a century in almost the same number of balls that the former Indian captain initially took to get off the mark.
“He had an average of 12 to score the runs that he did and at the rate at which he did. It was amazing. I took 40 balls to get off the mark. He has scored a hundred in 40 balls, amazing, amazing,” the 74-year-old added.
