Glenn Maxwell spearheads big Australia win

Glenn Maxwell thumped the second-fastest hundred in the history of World Cup cricket - off just 51 balls - to help Australia beat Sri Lanka by 64 runs in their Group A match played in Sydney on Sunday.

Australia's captain Michael Clarke won the toss and opted to bat first. In-form opener David Warner was the first to fall, in the fifth over, for just nine. Aaron Finch followed four-overs later and Australia stood at 41 in nine overs.

Clarke and Steven Smith the added 134 for the third wicket and took their side to 135, before the duo fell two-overs apart. Australia had scored 177 in 33 overs, when Maxwell walked in. It took him just six balls to hit his first boundary.

It was to be the first of many boundaries, as Maxwell switched gears early. He thumped Tillakaratne Dilshan for a four and a six in the next over - the 35th - and then lofted Seekkuge Prasanna for the same two-over later.

He raced to 50 off just 26 balls and then converted that into his maiden hundred, just 25-balls later. Maxwell plundered Sri Lanka's attack for ten fours and four sixes before he departed. His was the fastest ODI ton by an Australian.

Australia had scored 337 when Maxwell left the fray. Shane Watson and Brad Haddin kept up the tempo and helped them post 376 in their 50 overs.

Sri Lanka lost Lahiru Thirimanne - in just the second over - for one, but Dilshan and Kumara Sangakkara ensured their side wouldn't give in without a fight.

The duo added 130 for the second wicket. Sangakkara went on to score his third-straight hundred in the World Cup. But their departure prompted an end to Sri Lanka's resistance and they were dismissed for 312 in 46.2 overs.

"It was a massive game for us. It was a big thing for us to win this game. Glad to get the monkey off my back. Showed just how quality the opposition was (in running this close), but luckily for us we were able to get over the line in the end. Guys should be mentally refreshed and physically refreshed for the next game," Maxwell said.