Glenn Maxwell’s brutal 106* puts him alongside T20 greats

Glenn Maxwell rolled back the years with a sensational century, lighting up the Major League Cricket (MLC) stage with a vintage display of power-hitting for Washington Freedom (WSF) against Los Angeles Knight Riders (LAKR) in Oakland.

The Australian all-rounder, nicknamed ‘The Big Show’ for his flamboyant and fearless strokeplay, hammered an unbeaten 106 off just 49 deliveries. Maxwell fully lived up to the moniker, launching a relentless assault that included a staggering 13 sixes and just two boundaries. He struck at a blistering rate of 216.33, anchoring a crucial innings after WSF suffered an early collapse.

An insane Glenn Maxwell hundred in the MLC!

He went from 11 off 15 … to 106 off 49!

Full highlights coming in just minutes 👀 pic.twitter.com/zwcpjnyAls

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) June 18, 2025

With this century, his eighth in T20 cricket, Maxwell joined elite company, tying with fellow Australians David Warner, Aaron Finch, India’s Rohit Sharma, England’s Jos Buttler, and Michael Klinger for the joint-fourth-most centuries in the format. Only Chris Gayle (22), Babar Azam (11), and the duo of Rilee Rossouw and Virat Kohli (9 each) have more T20 tons.

Maxwell’s leadership has been pivotal for Washington Freedom this season, especially in the absence of regular captain Steve Smith, who led them to the MLC title last year. After opting to bat first upon winning the toss, WSF got off to a shaky start, finding themselves struggling at 68/4. A brief but impactful cameo of 32 runs off 11 balls by Mitchell Owen provided early momentum, featuring four fours and two sixes.

From that precarious position, Maxwell took charge, stabilising the innings before launching into top gear in the death overs. His partnership with Obus Pienaar (14* off 10 balls) proved vital, especially in the final over bowled by Jason Holder, which went for 26 runs. Maxwell brought up his hundred in style during that over, guiding Washington Freedom to a formidable total of 208/5.

In the 2025 edition of MLC, Maxwell has been in red-hot form, amassing 149 runs from just three innings at an extraordinary average of 149.00 and a strike rate exceeding 204. His previous scores were 38* and 5, showcasing both consistency and impact. As things stand, he is the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament.

(With ANI inputs)

This article first appeared on Mid Day