NEW DELHI, Oct  25, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - Glenn Maxwell admitted he "wasn't
expecting" to hit a record 40-ball Cricket World Cup century on Wednesday.

Maxwell, nicknamed 'The Big Show' for his flamboyant hitting, clubbed eight
fours and eight sixes in his run blitz as Australia piled up 399-8 against the
Netherlands in New Delhi.

On a record-shattering day, five-time champions Australia went on to bowl
out the Dutch for just 90, completing a World Cup record 309-run rout.

Maxwell's stunning assault bettered the record of South Africa's Aiden
Markram who blasted a century off 49 balls against Sri Lanka at the same venue
18 days ago.

"It feels pretty good. I have been pretty cooked today so I wasn't
expecting much but it probably cleared my head a little bit to be able to go
out there and play," said Maxwell.

It was also the fourth fastest century in all ODIs.

South Africa's AB de Villiers leads the way with his 31-ball century
against the West Indies in Johannesburg in 2015.

New Zealander Corey Anderson reached three figures off 36 balls against the
West Indies at Queenstown in 2014 while Shahid Afridi of Pakistan made a
century from 37 deliveries facing Sri Lanka in Nairobi back in 1996.

The 35-year-old Maxwell, playing in his 133rd ODI, was eventually out for
104, just short of his career best 108 made against England in Manchester in
2020.

It was also comfortably his best score of this World Cup -- his highest
before Wednesday was 31 not out against Sri Lanka in Lucknow.

"I was just trying to get a read on the bowlers because I felt like I had
enough time to change and adapt. Generally I am just trying to get any reverse
sweeps over the infield.

"I thought the Netherlands were outstanding. It felt like they saved some
certain boundaries in the first 25-30 overs."

After being named man of the match, Maxwell added: "It's like a perfect
game, when you get 400 and bowl a team out for under 100. We've had three good
wins now and will look to build on that momentum."

Australia skipper Pat Cummins, who was at the crease with Maxwell as he
launched the Dutch bowlers to all parts of the stadium, described his teammate
as "a freak."

Dutch bowler Bas de Leede ended with figures of 2-115 -- the worst ever ODI
performance.

"That was crazy," said Cummins of Maxwell. "That was just a freak show,
you've got no options as a bowler when someone is running as hot as that.

"It's the cleanest hitting you're going to see."