Maxwell’s great day, a field day for statisticians!

Glenn Maxwell celebrates his double century and Australia’s win over Afghanistan at Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday. PIC/AFP

AUSTRALIA'S big-hitting middle-order batsman Glenn Maxwell has taken the World Cup by storm. He scored the fastest hundred in ODIs - off just 40 balls - against the Netherlands, while on Tuesday, despite struggling with a hamstring injury, he smashed an unbeaten 201 to pull Australia out from the jaws of defeat against Afghanistan at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. Maxwell's incredible knock has won netizens' hearts with many claiming his 128-ball hit is now the best ODI knock of all time as he helped Australia chase a 292-run target after being in dire straits at 91-7.

Maxwell, in this process, went on to create and shatter several records in men's ODIs. The right-hander became the first Aussie batsman to score a double century with the previous highest being 185 not out by Shane Watson during the 2011 World Cup against Bangladesh in Mirpur. Apart from this, he is the only batter to score a double ton while chasing. His double century is extra special because the previous 10 have been scored by opening batsmen, while Maxwell came into bat at No. 6. The Melbourne-born all-rounder also broke Kapil Dev's record of the highest score by a No. 6 batter. The then India skipper had smashed an unbeaten 175 against Zimbabwe during the 1983 World Cup. Maxwell's 128-ball innings is also the fastest double century in World Cups.

Maxwell shared an unbeaten 202-run stand with skipper Pat Cummins, which is now the highest partnership for the seventh wicket or lower. Out of 202, Maxwell contributed 179 runs, i.e. 88.61 per cent, which is the highest by a batter in a 100-plus stand.