Glenn Maxwell answered his critics in stunning fashion by following up a three-wicket haul in England’s innings with a blistering 103 not out to lead Australia to victory in the T20 tri-series match in Hobart.
Maxwell was controversially overlooked for most of the one-day series between the teams, with his training methods questioned by captain Steve Smith.
But he delivered a stunning riposte by first taking the crucial wickets of England captain Eoin Morgan, Dawid Malan and David Willey.
In reply, Australia had slipped to four for two after Willey’s salvo in the opening over but Maxwell shared a 78-run stand with D’Arcy Short (30) that tilted the balance in the home side’s favour.
Maxwell was dropped in the deep by Alex Hales on 40 and was given another reprieve on 59 after the third umpire adjudged the all-rounder’s drive had not carried to Jason Roy running in from long-off.
He then took centre stage and thumped his fourth sixth — to go with 10 fours — to bring up his second T20 international century, which sealed a five-wicket win for Australia with nine balls to spare.
Maxwell said: “That’s the most pleasing aspect for me. I told [Alex] Carey to get two off the first ball [of the penultimate over] because I didn’t have much left but he gloved one and told me to go and get the hundred.”
