AUS vs NED Review: Australia outplays the Dutch to achieve biggest World Cup victory
Australia and the Netherlands faced off in the 23rd match of the 2023 ODI World Cup at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi and the Kangaroos set the record books ablaze with a super comprehensive performance.
Australia won the toss and chose to bat first and got off to a slightly shaky start as opener Mitchell Marsh was dismissed early by Logan van Beek. However, David Warner and Steve Smith then took control of the game with their attacking shots and built a strong partnership of 132 runs for the second wicket.
Smith’s innings came to an end when he was caught by Roelof van der Merwe off Aryan Dutt, but Warner continued to dominate. He eventually reached a brilliant century before being dismissed for 104 off 93 balls.
Marnus Labuschagne joined Warner and played a quick-fire 62 off 47. And then came the Big Show, the explosive Glenn Maxwell. From the very first ball, he looked in ominous touch and started thrashing the Dutch bowlers all around the park. He broke records and reached the fastest century in World Cup history, achieving the milestone in just 40 balls. His knock of 106 runs off 44 balls featured nine fours and eight sixes. His inning helped the Aussies to reach 399 in their allocated 50 overs.
In response, the Dutch team struggled against the skillful Australian bowling lineup. They lost their first three wickets within 10 overs with just 47 runs on the board. The Dutch batters could not resist the Australian bowlers and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. They were eventually bowled out for just 90 runs, resulting in Australia’s biggest win in World Cup history by a margin of 309 runs.
Top Performers of the Match
David Warner (104 of 93)
Warner’s century was crucial for Australia after the early dismissal of Mitchell Marsh. He showcased great prowess with his bat and played a brilliant knock with great skill and dominance, hitting 11 fours and three sixes during his innings. Maxwell may have stolen the show but it was Warner’s century that laid a platform for carnage.
Adam Zampa (4/8, 3 overs)
Adam Zampa was introduced late in the innings but made an immediate impact with his leg spin and googlies. The Dutch batters struggled against him, and Zampa finished with impressive figures of four wickets for just eight runs. This was Zampa’s third consecutive four-wicket haul in the tournament.
What next?
Going ahead, Australia will play against New Zealand on October 28. While Bangladesh will take on the Netherlands on October 28.
