Despite some early hiccups, five-time champions Australia are back on course for the semi-finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup with a record-shattering show against minnows The Netherlands under floodlights at New Delhi’s Ferozeshah Kotla on Wednesday (October 25).
Riding on emphatic centuries from opener David Warner (104) and Glenn Maxwell (106), Australia cantered to an imposing score of 399 for six from 50 overs. Spin bowler Adam Zampa then claimed four wickets for eight runs to bundle The Netherlands out for 90 in 21 overs as the Aussies emerged triumphant by 309 runs.
Records tumbled at the Kotla ground as Australia posted the biggest victory in the history of the World Cup, eclipsing the earlier mark of 275 runs which was achieved by Australia against Afghanistan at Perth in 2015. This is also the second-largest win in all one-day internationals, only behind India’s 317-run triumph over Sri Lanka at Thiruvananthapuram earlier this year.
The Netherlands, who qualified for the 10-nation World Cup by edging out former champions the West Indies in the qualifying tournament, came into this encounter after an upset victory over South Africa, but their bowlers lacked the firepower to curb the rampant Australian batsmen.
Warner (104 off 93 balls, 3 sixes 11 fours) posted his second century of the tournament and shared a 132-run partnership for the second wicket with former skipper Steve Smith (71 runs off 68 balls) to provide Australia the strong foundation on which Marnus Labuschagne (62 runs off 47 balls) and Maxwell (106 runs off 44 balls, eight sixes and nine fours) flourished.
Warner’s previous hundred came in the round-robin league fixture against against 1992 champions Pakistan, who are having a horrid World Cup with reversals against hosts India and Afghanistan, leaving them with four points (two wins and three losses).
Playing on a familiar Kotla ground that is the home of his Indian Premier League (IPL) team Delhi Capitals, Warner was in sparkling form and cornered the early spotlight before Maxwell stamped his authority to post the fastest century in World Cup history.
Maxwell reached the three-figure mark from 40 deliveries when he sent the ball soaring over the fence for his eighth sixer. He eclipsed the mark set just a fortnight ago by South African Aiden Markram against Sri Lanka at this very venue. Markram had reached the century from 49 balls.
Rattled after their loss to hosts India in the World Cup opener and then succumbing against a powerful South Africa, Australia were pushed to the fourth spot at the halfway stage in the 10-nation tournament. Even this victory over the Netherlands leaves them in fourth place in the round-robin league standings, but Australia seem to have struck form ahead of the crux encounters against 2019 World Cup runners-up New Zealand and defending champions England.
Hosts India (10 points; five wins in five games) are atop the standings, ahead of South Africa (eight points, four wins and one loss) in second place. New Zealand are lying third on eight points (three wins and two losses), followed by Australia, who now have six points (three wins and two defeats).
Among Australia’s remaining rivals are two low-key opponents – Afghanistan and Bangladesh – but they also need some fine performances against New Zealand and defending champions England to stay firmly on track for the semi-finals.
While India, South Africa and New Zealand are looking good at this stage, England’s hopes of making the semi-finals have been badly dented as they are lying in ninth place with just one win from four outings.
New Zealand launched the current World Cup with an emphatic win over England in the tournament opener, thereby avenging their loss in the final in 2019. England went on to lose to South Africa before Afghanistan rubbed salt into their wounds with some fine spin bowling.
The Afghans continued in the same vein to make it a memorable World Cup by posting a first-ever victory over Pakistan.
