Maxwell’s century fires Australia past Sri Lanka, into World Cup quarters

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia stormed into the World Cup quarterfinals with a 64-run victory over Sri Lanka, fired by a spectacular maiden one-day international ton from Glenn Maxwell at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday. Sri Lanka signaled that it is also in fine form for the knockout stages by having a good crack at what would have been a record run chase with Kumar Sangakkara becoming the first man to score three successive centuries at a World Cup. The visitors were always up against it after Maxwell’s 53-ball 102 had helped Australia to 3769, however, and it is the co-host which is now almost certain to finish second in Pool A and avoid champion India or South Africa in the quarters. On a night when the 40,000 crowd were thrilled by a feast of batting, it was Maxwell’s deployment of the full array of shots in his prodigious armory that proved decisive. His hundred came off 51 balls, just one shy of the record for the quickest World Cup century, and he shared a 160-run partnership with Shane Watson, who hit 67 to celebrate his recall to the team. Maxwell was dropped by a backpedaling Sangakkara on 95 and there was a nervous wait on 99, his chance of sharing the World Cup record with Irishman Kevin O’Brien disappearing when the umpire ruled a leg bye off the 50th ball he faced. The century came up soon enough with two runs to midoff, though, and his emotional celebration after reaching the milestone in his 43rd one-day innings was a graphic illustration of what it meant to a player often dismissed as a show-pony. Steve Smith (72) and skipper Michael Clarke (68) had earlier steadied the innings with a partnership of 134 after openers David Warner (nine) and Aaron Finch (24) had been dismissed inside the first 10 overs. Maxwell hit 10 fours and four sixes in his innings and the pyrotechnics continued when Sri Lanka came out to bat, Tillakaratne Dilshan setting the tone by spectacularly hitting six fours off Mitchell Johnson’s third over. Johnson had already dismissed Lahiru Thirimanne caught behind for one in his opening over to bring Dilshan and Sangakkara together at the crease. While their 130-run partnership continued, it looked like Sri Lanka had a chance but once James Faulkner (3-48) trapped Dilshan in front for 62, it looked like an uphill struggle. Sangakkara had already become only the second player after Sachin Tendulkar to score 14,000 runs in one-day internationals and was not going to be denied his century, which he reached in as many balls with two runs to backward square. He departed soon afterwards for 104, leaving Dinesh Chandimal, who hit 52 off 24 balls before retiring hurt, and Angelo Mathews (35) to lead the rearguard action and Sri Lanka was finally dismissed for 312 after 46.2 overs. Elsewhere on Sunday, Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor got some valuable time at the wicket as New Zealand did what it needed to looking ahead to the quarterfinals with a six-wicket victory over Afghanistan at McLean Park on Sunday. Guptill was run out for 57, while Taylor, who had scored just 29 runs in four previous innings, was 24 not out as New Zealand scored 188-4 in 36.1 overs. Afghanistan had been dismissed for 186 in 47.4 overs with Daniel Vettori becoming the 12th man to take 300 one-day international wickets when he produced another impeccable spell of left-arm spin bowling. Captain Brendon McCullum had given his side a rollicking start with 42 runs from 19 balls before Kane Williamson (33) and Guptill took them to 111 for one without looking troubled. Williamson, however, was caught by Samiullah Shenwari at mid-wicket off Shapoor Zadran in the 19th over, before Guptill was run out with 44 runs needed and Grant Elliott dismissed in the same fashion 12 runs short of the target. Taylor and Corey Anderson (seven not out) saw New Zealand home after Vettori had taken 4-18 from 10 overs. The 36-year-old has taken 12 wickets in the tournament at an average of 11.33 and economy rate of three runs per over. He is the ninth player to take more than 300 wickets in both Tests and ODIs. On Monday, Bangladesh plays England in Adelaide in a match that could decide the fourth qualifier from Pool A. If England loses either of its last two matches, it is out, while Bangladesh can qualify by beating either the English or New Zealand.