Glenn Maxwell snubs Pat Cummins in ‘chit chat’ drama

Just moments after finishing off one of the greatest hundreds ever clubbed, Glenn Maxwell put his own captain in his place.

It takes a brave man to put his own captain in his place — and Glenn Maxwell is that special type of player.

Maxwell struck the fastest World Cup century in just 40 balls to lead Australia to a tournament record 309-run win over the Netherlands at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley stadium.

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Maxwell’s 106 off 44 balls laced with nine fours and eight sixes fired Australia to 399-8, a total their bowlers defended easily as the Dutch were dismissed for just 90 in 21 overs in New Delhi.

That is the heaviest defeat by runs (as opposed to wickets) for anyone in World Cup history, eclipsing Australia’s previous record of 275-run margin against Afghanistan in 2015.

Maxwell and Pat Cummins combined for the third-quickest hundred-run partnership ever seen at the World Cup.

Their 103-run partnership was from just 43 deliveries — the biggest total for a seventh-wicket partnership for Australia at the World Cup.

Of those 103 runs, Cummins contributed just eight.

Pat Cummins got sent back. Photo: Fox Cricket.

Maxwell was in mind-boggling form. When Cummins arrived at the crease, Maxwell was 11 from eight — and then went on to club an unforgettable innings.

Just moments after reaching his century, Maxwell had the daunting task of telling Cummins to remain at the non-striker’s end.

In the final over of the innings, Maxwell dug-out a cover drive towards a fielder and Cummins took off for an easy single — only to be ordered back to the non-striker’s end.

It’s fair to say Maxwell was in the zone and there aren’t too many who would say he didn’t do the right thing — no matter how brazen it was.

The moment didn’t go unnoticed as Cummins and Maxwell exchanged some words where Maxwell appeared to let his skipper know he was going to farm the strike.

“Bit of a chit chat there between Cummins and Maxwell,” Zimbabwe commentator Mpumelelo Mbangwa said on the Fox Cricket broadcast.

“I think it was a bit of a, ‘Well you had your chance and missed’.”

Unfortunately it didn’t pay off and Maxwell was caught out hitting down the ground the very next delivery.

Cummins only faced one more call in the innings — smacking a boundary on the final ball.

The Aussie captain was in a very happy mood after the big win — and was happy to make jokes about his contribution to his record partnership with Maxwell.

Australia's Glenn Maxwell celebrates with his team captain Pat Cummins after scoring a century. Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP)

“That was crazy,” Cummins said during the post-match presentations where Maxwell was named man of the match.

Cummins grinned cheekily when he said: “A hundred run partnership. I thought we both contributed evenly. That was just a freak show. You’ve got no options as a bowler when someone’s running as hot like that. He was fantastic. As clean hitting as you’re going to see.”

David Warner’s record knock of 104 was almost an afterthought after Maxwell’s knock.

Cummins, meanwhile, tried his best to highlight the impressive performance from the entire Aussie XI.

“I’m really happy, that’s just about the complete game,” he said.

“It’s as good as I could have hoped for — to put 400 on the board and defend it, I couldn’t be happier.”

It was records galore on Wednesday as Maxwell’s blitz bettered the record of South Africa’s Aiden Markram who blasted a century off 49 balls against Sri Lanka just 18 days ago at the same venue.

He smashed Bas de Leede for two fours and three sixes on successive balls to achieve the feat before departing in the final over.

Warner, who clubbed 163 last time out against Pakistan, reached his second successive ton off 91 balls with 11 fours and three sixes to set the tone for his team’s dominance.

Warner pulled level with India batting great Sachin Tendulkar with six World Cup centuries, but it was Maxwell who stole the show at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium.

India skipper Rohit Sharma recently surpassed compatriot Tendulkar’s record of World Cup tons to lead the race with seven hundreds.

“They are a quality unit and defending 400, they’ve got world class bowlers and we should’ve been better today,” admitted Dutch skipper Scott Edwards.

Australia's captain Pat Cummins and his teammate Glenn Maxwell celebrate after the dismissal of Netherlands' Vikramjit Singh. Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP.

The left-handed Warner led the batting with aplomb after Australia elected to bat first.

Australia lost Mitchell Marsh, for nine, in the fourth over before Warner and Steve Smith hit back in a stand of 132 against a Dutch side who had stunned South Africa earlier in the tournament.

Smith scored his first fifty of this edition before he fell for 71 off spinner Aryan Dutt, but Warner stood firm in another stubborn partnership of 84 with Marnus Labuschagne.

Labuschagne raised his fifty before he fell for 62 off Bas de Leede.

Maxwell started with a string of boundaries including three in one over off De Leede and despite losing partner Cameron Green to a run out flayed the opposition attack.

De Leede went for 2-115 — the worst ever ODI figures.

The Dutch were never in the chase after they lost half their side for 62 runs inside 14 overs.

Opener Vikramjit Singh scored a run-a-ball 25 before being run out by a direct throw from Maxwell.

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa returned with four wickets in his three overs and ended the match with consecutive strikes.

Australia started the tournament with two losses but have bounced back with three victories to consolidate their fourth spot in the 10-team table in the race to the semi-finals.

— with AFP