Australia routs Netherlands by 309 runs in World Cup

A record World Cup rout for Australia was clinched by a tremendous 309-run victory over the Netherlands in New Delhi on Wednesday with Glenn Maxwell registering the fastest century ever recorded in the tournament.

It is without a doubt the bowling attacks of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa and Mitchell Marsh were at their strongest against the Dutch batters, who could not hold their nerves against some of the most potent batsmen in the world.

It was not long before the Netherlands were all out for just 90 runs after losing wickets at a rapid rate.

There were four wickets taken by Zampa, two by Marsh, and one each by Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood while they were all out for nine runs.

A huge 399-run total was posted by Australia in the first innings thanks to Glenn Maxwell and David Warner, who both tormented Dutch bowlers in the first innings, especially Maxwell, who showed no mercy as he terrorized the Dutch bowlers.

A century off just 40 balls enabled Maxwell to power Australia to a score of 399-8 in 21 overs, a total their bowlers were able to defend, bowling out the Dutch for 90 in 21 overs with Maxwell’s innings of 106.

With 104 runs for his sixth century in a 50-over match at Perth, David Warner also played an important role in Australia’s spectacular win, which ended in a 275 run margin of victory over Afghanistan, bettering their previous margin of victory against Afghanistan at Perth in 2015.

In spite of the fact that Mitchell Marsh was dismissed early, Australia were off to a flying start.

With a partnership of 132 runs between Steve Smith and Warner, their side was poised for a massive total during the innings.

Marnus Labuschagne scored 84 runs with the left-handed opener after Smith lost his wicket for 71 runs and formed a stand of 71 runs after Smith lost his wicket.

The five-time World Champions lost six wickets in quick succession after Warner lost his wicket, and it was appearing that they would have to settle for a total between 300-330 runs but Maxwell’s century in just 40 balls changed Cummins’ fortunes and he scored the fastest 100 ever in the history of the World Cup.

Having come to bat a few minutes after the Aussies had just lost Josh Inglis to the Dutch bowlers, the 35-year-old batted when their side was 266-4 in 38 overs, and hit the Dutch bowlers hard to score 106 runs in total off just 44 deliveries, with 17 boundaries, nine fours and eight sixes to his name.

They are set to face the in-form New Zealand team on October 28 at Dharamshala in a match that has the potential to be historic. At the same time, the Netherlands will also be playing Bangladesh on the same day in Kolkata.