Maxwell Mania: Scorching Century Propels Australia to Record Total

Not a better sight in world of cricket than seeing Glenn Maxwell in serious mood of batting. The Big Show unleashed a batting masterclass on Sunday, bludgeoning an unbeaten 120 off just 55 balls as Australia posted a mammoth 241-4 in the second T20I against the West Indies.

The innings, his fifth T20I century, marked a dominant return to form for the 35-year-old and propelled Australia to their highest-ever T20I score at the Adelaide Oval.

Maxwell’s knock was a whirlwind of power and precision. He peppered the boundaries with 20 fours and eight sixes, scoring a staggering 96 runs through boundaries alone. This belligerent display earned him rave reviews from former Australian greats.

“Maxwell the magician,” declared Mark Howard on Fox Cricket. “A simply brilliant innings, he’s put on a show in Adelaide.”

Adam Gilchrist, who previously questioned Maxwell’s selection for the series, heaped further praise on the Victorian. “He just knows how to turn it on,” said Gilchrist. “He played to all parts of the ground… He certainly got himself into the zone.”

The innings was not just aesthetically pleasing, but also historically significant. It was the highest-ever T20I score by an Australian on home soil, surpassing David Warner’s 116 against Sri Lanka in 2019. Moreover, it ranked as the fourth-highest individual score by an Australian in T20I history.

Fellow Australian and former T20 captain Aaron Finch acknowledged Maxwell’s dominance, stating, “He’s almost impossible to stop” after witnessing the swashbuckling performance.

Speaking after his innings, Maxwell himself expressed his enjoyment at the crease. “It was good fun, that’s for sure,” he said. “I’ve had a few cursed Adelaide trips, so it’s nice to make this a positive one.”

West Indies fought valiantly in pursuit of 242, but unfortunately, it was too much of a challenge for the Men in Maroon. Once again, several batters got starts, but none could truly capitalize.

Only skipper Rovman Powell (63 off 36 balls) managed to find the boundary consistently, and in the end, West Indies scored 207 for 9, falling short by 34 runs.

Akeal Hosein, Sherfane Rutherford, and Shai Hope all departed without scoring. Marcus Stoinis didn’t have a good outing with the bat, but he shone with the ball, taking 3 wickets for 36 runs.