Australia registered their third consecutive win in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, as they thrashed Netherlands by 309 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Wednesday. Glenn Maxwell scored a blistering century, while Mitchell Starc took a hat-trick to seal the victory for the Aussies.
Maxwell’s fireworks
Australia won the toss and opted to bat first, hoping to pile up a big total against the Dutch bowlers. David Warner and Mitchell Marsh gave them a solid start, adding 67 runs for the first wicket. Warner was dismissed for 36 by Aryan Dutt, who opened the bowling with his off-spin.
Steve Smith joined Marsh and continued the momentum, as they put on 89 runs for the second wicket. Marsh reached his half-century, but fell soon after for 54, caught by Colin Ackermann off Pieter Seelaar.
Maxwell then came to the crease and unleashed his trademark aggression, smashing the ball to all parts of the ground. He reached his hundred in just 43 balls, the second-fastest in World Cup history. He hit 12 fours and six sixes in his innings of 106 before he was caught by Ryan ten Doeschate off Fred Klaassen.
Smith also completed his century, scoring 102 off 94 balls, before he was run out by Seelaar. Marcus Stoinis and Alex Carey added some quick runs in the end, as Australia finished with a mammoth total of 399 for 8 in 50 overs.
Seelaar was the most successful bowler for the Netherlands, taking 3 for 75 in his 10 overs. Dutt, Klaassen, and Timm van der Gugten took one wicket each.
star’s hat-trick
The Netherlands faced the daunting task of chasing down 400 runs against a formidable Australian bowling attack. They lost their openers Max O’Dowd and Stephan Myburgh early, both falling to Pat Cummins.
Ben Cooper and Bas de Leede tried to rebuild the innings, but they could not cope with the pace and bounce of Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Cooper was caught behind by Carey off Starc for 18, while de Leede was bowled by Hazlewood for 16.
Ackermann and ten Doeschate offered some resistance, putting on 32 runs for the fifth wicket. However, Starc returned to break their partnership, as he had Ackermann caught by Smith for 14.
Starc then completed his hat-trick in his next over, as he dismissed Scott Edwards, Seelaar, and van der Gugten in successive deliveries. Edwards was caught by Warner at slip, Seelaar was trapped lbw, and van der Gugten was bowled.
The Netherlands were reduced to 90 for 10 in 21 overs, as Australia wrapped up an emphatic win by 309 runs. Starc finished with figures of 5 for 19 in six overs, while Cummins took 2 for 15 in five overs. Hazlewood and Adam Zampa took one wicket each.
Maxwell was named the player of the match for his stunning century. Australia moved up to third place in the points table with six points from four matches. The Netherlands remained in seventh place with two points from four matches.