It was carnage that Australia finisher Glenn Maxwell brought on the Netherlands bowlers on Wednesday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi to record the fastest-ever ODI World Cup century. Maxwell reached the three-figure milestone in 40 balls, breaking the record of 49 balls set by Aiden Markram earlier in the World Cup 2023, also in Delhi.
Glenn Maxwell played strokes that were simply out of the planet today targetting boundaries behind the stumps and square off it. He mauled each and every Netherlands bowler who came to bowl to him and walloped them for 9 fours and 8 sixes and finished on 106 runs in 44 balls.
Of those 8 sixes he clobbered today, one six was so special, so different, and just so incredible that fans are hailing it as the most unbelievable shot of the World Cup 2023.
This came in the 47th over of Australia’s innings, bowled by pacer Bas de Leede. Such was the insanity of this shot that the ball was on leg-stump and Glenn Maxwell moved across his stumps and reverse-swept it over point. It’s freakish.
“Oh that’s ridiculous,” commentator Shane Watson shouted as he too, like everyone else, was left astonished.
We have rarely seen anyone do anything like this. While we have seen Maxwell himself, AB de Villiers, and Joe Root reverse-sweep balls for sixes over short third-man, this time Glenn Maxwell hit it over point!!
Watch: Glenn Maxwell plays the most unbelievable shot of the World Cup 2023
View this post on Instagram
What earlier seemed like Australia would reach a total of around 350 when they were 290/6 in 43 overs was then propelled to 399 by Maxwell’s freak show.
After his sensational innings, Glenn Maxwell said: 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. Just generally try to get it over the infield.