Australia's explosive batter Glenn Maxwell returned to form in style to score the fastest century in ODI World Cup history. Maxwell broke South Africa's Aiden Markram's record just 18 days after it was created at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. He got to his century from just 40 balls. Markram had reached his century from just 49 balls against Sri Lanka at the same venue on October 7.
For Australia, the record for the fastest century previously belonged to Maxwell. He had scored a 51-ball century against Sri Lanka in the 2015 edition of the World Cup.
In ODI history, it is the fourth-fastest century. The record for fastest ODI century belongs to South Africa's AB de Villiers who hit a 31-ball ton against West Indies in 2015. He is followed by New Zealand's Corey Anderson who scored a 36-ball century against West Indies in 2014. Before Anderson, it was Pakistan's Shahid Afridi who scored a 37-ball century against Sri Lanka in 1996.
Maxwell scored 106 runs from 44 balls featuring nine fours and eight sixes. His blazing knock helped Australia post 399/8 after Pat Cummins won the toss and opted to bat first.
He walked in at no.5 in the 40th over after David Warner lost his wicket to Logan van Beek after scoring 104 runs from 93 balls. Maxwell hit Bas de Leede for two fours in the next over. He was under pressure after Cameron Green got run out. He hit the first six of his innings in the 46th over. He reached his half-century from 27 balls with a six off De Leede. After a reverse sweep for six, he scooped it for another six.
In the next over, hit Van Beek for a couple of sixes as well. In the penultimate over, he went berserk hitting De Leede for two fours and three consecutive sixes. The six he hit to reach the three figures was off a no ball. He could not hit the free hit delivery out of the park. In the last over, Van Beek got his wicket with a delivery wide of off stump.
“Feels pretty good. I've been pretty cooked all day. Probably just cleared my head a bit to just go out and play. The situation when Davey and Greeny got out, I had to take it deep a little bit. Patty was good as well. Even if they are banging it into the wicket, I feel I have enough time to go after it. And when they are bowling quick, my hands have to be faster,” Maxwell told the broadcasters after rewriting World Cup record books.
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