ICC World Cup 2023: Australia ease past Netherlands to record third consecutive win
The Aussies bounced back after back-to-back defeats
Australia continued their fantastic form and beat the Netherlands by 309 runs in the 24th match of the ICC World Cup 2023 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, India, on Wednesday.
The massive 309-run — the largest in the history of the mega event — win helped the Aussies improve their net run rate (NRR) considerably and strengthened their position on the road to the semi-final.
Chasing the colossal target of 400 runs, not a single Dutch batter could hold their nerves and stood against the bowling attack of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa and Mitchell Marsh.
The Netherlands kept losing wickets quickly and were soon all out for just 90 runs.
Zampa took four wickets, Marsh bagged two, while Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood all managed to pick one.
Earlier in the first innings, Glenn Maxwell and David Warner powered Australia to a massive 399-run total as both the batters, especially the former, terrorised the Dutch bowlers and showed no mercy.
Australia were off to a flying start despite losing an early wicket of Mitchell Marsh.
Steve Smith and Warner built a 132-run partnership, getting their side on track for a massive total.
After Smith lost his wicket for 71 runs, Marnus Labuschagne played with the left-handed opener and formed an 84-run stand.
Australia lost wickets in quick successions after Warner lost his wicket and it looked that the five-time World Champions would have to settle for a total between 300-330 but Maxwell's scored the fastest hundred in the history of the World Cup in just 40 balls and changed the fortunes of Cummins' men.
The 35-year-old came to bat when the Aussies were 266-4 in 38 overs after they had just lost the wicket of Josh Inglis and started hitting the Dutch bowlers and scored 106 runs in total off just 44 deliveries courtesy of 17 boundaries, nine fours and eight sixes.
The five-time World Champions play the in-form New Zealand next on October 28 in Dharamshala. Meanwhile, the Netherlands will play Bangladesh on the same date in Kolkata.
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