Centurions David Warner, Glenn Maxwell hand Australia largest margin win in history of World Cup

Two beautiful colours of team uniform at World Cup 2022 led a minute of silence in tribute to late Bishan Singh Bedi at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi on Wednesday (October 25). sombre atmosphere soon turned into buzzing as Delhi Capitals' homeboy David Warner and his Australian teammate Glenn Maxwell got crowd gaga with ir monstrous strokes, leaving Nerlands to chase 400 runs. 

3 things you need to kw

• Australia beat Nerlands by 309 runs in Delhi 
• Australia recorded largest margin win in World Cup 
• Australia improved ir net run-rate from -0.193 to 1.142 

Australia stuck with Mitchell Marsh to open innings alongside David Warner, mocking speculations that Travis Head, who rejoined Australian squad after recovering from a hand injury, would take top spot and push Marsh to .3. partnership between Marsh and Warner that yielded 259 runs against Pakistan, did t last beyond fourth over as Logan van Beek drew first blood. Marsh (9) tried to drag a pull but miscued an outside off short ball. However, incoming Steve Smith, hungry for runs and form, quickly got Australia back on track.

ALSO READ: List of records broken during AUS vs NED

Nerlands could have had changed match scenario but a mix-up in field saved Warner from getting run out on 22. missed opportunity hurt Dutch side plenty as Warner went on to bring up his second consecutive hundred at World Cup 2023. It also took him on par with Sachin Tendulkar (6 hundreds) for most men's ODI World Cup centuries. Warner is w behind Rohit Sharma, who leds chart with seven tons to his name.

Meanwhile, Smith was granted his wish as he hit his first fifty in tournament, coming after four matches. He was among last ones to leave nets during optional team training on eve of match. Warner-Smith combination added 132 runs for second wicket before Aryan Dutt got Smith (71) at backward point. 
 

Marnus Labuschagne took his time to read pitch before launching two sixes and seven boundaries in his 47-ball 62. Nerlands made a brief return in match after Logan van Beek got rid of David Warner (104), who paddled ball towards fine leg.

Glenn Maxwell once again added life to stadium as he literally hammered Nerlands bowlers with his monstrous innings. RCB star convincingly registered fastest ODI World Cup hundred with his 40-ball hundred, breaking record held by Aiden Markram (hundred in 49 balls against Sri Lanka). Ironically, Markram also achieved record in Delhi. Australia posted 399/8 in 50 overs, which is ir second-highest score in men's ODI World Cup history and third-highest score overall in men's ODI. 

MASSIVE BOOST TO AUSTRALIA'S NRR

What Nerlands needed was to punch above ir weight but it was always going to be an uphill task against experienced Australian bowlers. Nerlands lost ir top three Max O'Dowd (6), Vikramjit Singh (25), and Colin Ackermann (10) inside first 10 overs. Mitchell Starc got third time lucky as O'Dowd played on in fifth over and in following over a direct hit from Glenn Maxwell ended Vikramjit's stay in middle.

Shortly after departure of openers, .3 Ackermann couldn't withstand storm as he was trapped in front by Josh Hazlewood. Australia captain Pat Cummins and Mitchell Marsh joined party as Nerlands collapsed like a pack of cards. But what stood out was Warner's catch that dismissed Sybrand Engelbrecht. Dutch player played a pull shot but Warner, standing on deep square leg fence, simply plucked ball with a well-timed jump, reducing Nerlands to 62/5 in 13.2 overs.

Adam Zampa, coming on back of two consecutive four-wicket hauls against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, could have had joined Brett Lee as an Australian taking a World Cup hat-trick but Aryan Dutt denied him in 19th over of run chase. With more than half of ir side back in dressing room, Nerlands eventually folded for 90 in 21 overs and Australia registered largest margin win (309 runs) in history of World Cup tournament. Interestingly, Australia bettered ir own record as y were holding record for largest margin win (275 runs vs Afghanistan in Perth 2015).