This was published 10 months ago
‘That’s outrageous’: The wildest moments of Glenn Maxwell’s ridiculous century
By Tom Decent
As far as brilliant sporting performances go, Glenn Maxwell’s World Cup century off 40 deliveries against the Netherlands on Wednesday night in Delhi will take some beating.
The Victorian produced the fastest century in men’s World Cup history and the fastest by an Australian man in one-day international cricket. Australia played their first ODI match in 1971.
It wasn’t just the ridiculous strike rate or breathtaking shots that made Maxwell’s time at the crease so special. As well as battling the Netherlands bowlers, the rapidly diminishing number of remaining deliveries further added to the drama.
Maxwell’s teammates marvelled at his magic, watching the player known as the “Big Show” plunder nine fours and eight sixes to help Australia to a mammoth total of 8-399.
Here are some of the highlights of his spectacular innings.
Off the mark with panache
Even though it was the fourth-fastest century in 50-over cricket history, it’s worth noting Maxwell did not score a run from his opening delivery, which took place on the third ball of the 41st over.
But it didn’t take long for Maxwell to get into his groove by crunching a straight drive to the boundary.
Getting one right off the middle of the bat was the perfect start.
A costly drop
Maxwell owes Teja Nidamanuru a thank-you note after the Netherlands outfielder dropped the Australian when he was 26 runs from 15 balls.
It wouldn’t have affected the outcome of the match - Australia ended up winning by 309 runs - but it was a moment that he’d like to forget given the carnage that followed.
Paul van Meekeren sent down a slower ball that Maxwell tried to whack over the top of the fielders inside the 30-metre circle.
Nidamanuru ran back but couldn’t get a hand on the catch, which was certainly difficult but one that he should have made a better attempt at.
A switch-hit for the ages
On 35, Maxwell pulled out a reverse sweep for six. Shane Watson could be heard yelling out, “that’s outrageous”.
But an even better version of it was still to come. On 48, Maxwell pulled out his signature shot again.
His wrist speed through the ball was special and the timing of the shot was exquisite.
“That’s ridiculous,” Watson said on that occasion, as Maxwell brought up his half-century from 27 balls.
Take that
With 14 balls remaining in Australia’s innings, Maxwell had raced to 68 runs. It looked so easy to him that it was bordering on becoming unfair.
The Netherlands bowlers looked lost on where they should bowl.
Maxwell went from 68 to 74 with one sensational sliced drive behind the wicket on the offside.
With two overs remaining, Maxwell was just 25 runs shy of triple figures. Excitement was building.
Two overs to go, and 25 runs required
Surely, Maxwell couldn’t reach triple figures? Or could he?
With a four back down the ground, to move to 79, the commentators finally sensed that a century could be on the cards.
By this point in the innings, Maxwell was trying to hit every ball to the boundary.
His skipper, Pat Cummins, had the best vantage point of anyone as he stood at the other end of the pitch.
Worst. Figures. Ever.
Spare a thought for Bas de Leede, who was tasked with bowling the penultimate over of the innings for the Netherlands.
By hitting two fours and then two sixes, Maxwell rocketed to 95.
De Leede was completely rattled and lost his radar even more by serving up a waist-high full toss that Maxwell dispatched over the backward square leg boundary.
It capped a magnificent century, remarkably, with eight balls remaining in the innings.
De Leede’s figures of 2-115 were the worst in the history of one-day cricket.
It was a hundred that will certainly live long in the memory.
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