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Pat Cummins moment with Glenn Maxwell raises eyebrows amid 'crazy' scenes

Australia's captain contributed just eight runs to the record century stand with his teammate.

andrew reid
·5-min read
Pictured left is Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell on the right.
Pat Cummins had to be put in his place during the Glenn Maxwell show for Australia against the Netherlands. Pic: Getty

Australia captain Pat Cummins was quick to see the funny side of his historic partnership with teammate Glenn Maxwell, during a record-breaking Cricket World Cup victory over the Netherlands. The Aussies cemented fourth spot in the group standings with their third straight win after Maxwell hit the fastest century in World Cup history - his extraordinary ton coming off just 40 balls.

Maxwell's astonishing innings propelled the Aussie side a mammoth score of 8-399, before Adam Zampa starred with the ball - claiming four wickets to bowl the Dutch side out for just 90. The 309-run victory margin was the highest in ODI World Cup history - surpassing Australia's 275-run thumping of Afghanistan in 2015.

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Aussie opener David Warner also smashed his way into the record books with his sixth World Cup century, breaking the previous Australian record of five he shared with Ricky Ponting. In a game where records were being smashed left, right and centre, it was the innings from Maxwell that really grabbed the headlines - and the cricketing world's attention.

The 35-year-old smashed the ball to all parts of Arun Jaitley Stadium, with a mix of reverse sweeps and traditional slogs, breaking his own Australian record for fastest ODI century, set at the 2015 World Cup against Sri Lanka. Cummins had a front row seat for the fireworks and was even put in his place by Maxwell at one point after being sent back when trying to take a single, so his big-hitting partner could farm the strike.

“Bit of a chit chat there between Cummins and Maxwell,” Zimbabwe commentator Mpumelelo Mbangwa said in commentary for Fox Cricket. “I think it was a bit of a, ‘Well you had your chance and missed’.” Maxwell ultimately holed out the very next ball after trying to smash a big six down the ground.

By the time Maxwell departed though, he and Cummins had shared in a 103-run partnership off just 43 deliveries - with the Aussie skipper only contributing eight runs to that tally. The partnership was the highest ever seventh-wicket stand for Australia at the World Cup, prompting a funny post-game response from Cummins about his contribution.

Pat Cummins reveals in record seventh-wicket partnership

“That was crazy,” Cummins said about Maxwell's innings, before offering a cheeky follow-up. “A hundred run partnership. I thought we both contributed evenly. That was just a freak show.

"You’ve got no options as a bowler when someone’s running as hot like that. He was fantastic. As clean hitting as you’re going to see.”

Zampa collected his third-straight four-wicket haul as the Dutch lost 5-6 to end their disappointing innings and complete the comprehensive mauling from the Aussies, who next face second-placed New Zealand in a blockbuster showdown on Saturday. After a poor first two games, Zampa (4-8) has shot to the top of the tournament's wicket-takers' list with 13.

David Warner into the record books for Australia

Maxwell's fireworks overshadowed Warner becoming Australia's outright leading century-maker in ODI World Cups, with his 104 setting up the innings superbly for Australia after Cummins won the toss and chose to bat. Warner's sixth World Cup ton saw him draw level with India legend Sachin Tendulkar, leaving him one behind Rohit Sharma's all-time record of seven centuries at the tournament.

Seen here, David Warner at the ODI World Cup.
David Warner's sixth ODI World Cup century saw him surpass Ricky Ponting's record for Australia. Pic: Getty

“I’m really happy, that’s just about the complete game,” a beaming Cummins added after the match. “It’s as good as I could have hoped for — to put 400 on the board and defend it, I couldn’t be happier.”

Marnus Labuschagne hit 62 from 47 balls for his best score of the World Cup, while Steve Smith (71) also chimed in with a timely half century of his own. Labuschagne could find himself the unlucky batter to drop out of the Aussie side for Saturday's clash with New Zealand if Travis Head returns to the top of the order as expected.

Head has been progressing well while batting in the nets after arriving in India less than one week ago, having been sidelined for almost six weeks with a broken hand.

with AAP

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