Maxwell credits mental strength after century blitz

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Maxwell credits mental strength after century blitz image

Glenn Maxwell stated he is in a good place mentally after his scintillating century helped Australia to a dominant 106-run victory in a Cricket World Cup warm-up against India.

The flamboyant batsman smashed 122 off just 57 balls in Adelaide, to register his first hundred in an Australia shirt in any format.

Maxwell, whose swashbuckling spell at the crease included 11 fours and eight sixes before he retired to help Australia to 371.

And the Man of the Match believes the timing of his knock came at the ideal moment considering Australia begin their World Cup campaign against England in Melbourne on Saturday. 

"It's nice to be hitting the ball really well coming into a tournament like this," he said. "I'm in a good head space.

"When I was on 96, Finchy [Aaron Finch] came out and said I was retiring after a hundred. So I had a few balls to have fun. We had an unbelievable start so I could give myself a few balls before taking off."

David Warner was also in fine form with the bat, the opener scoring 104 off 83 deliveries.

India toiled in reply en route to 265 all out, with Australia looking assured in the field - including a particularly fine direct-hit run-out from Warner on Suresh Raina.

Shikhar Dhawan (59), Ajinkya Rahane (66) and Ambati Rayudu (53) all scored half-centuries, but the rest of the order failed to hurt the scoreboard, with India still yet to win a match since arriving Down Under in December.

Captain MS Dhoni is well aware that the defending champions have plenty of work to do before their opener with Pakistan, but felt there were some good signs.

"It has been difficult for us, when the batsmen click the bowlers don't and when the bowlers do the batsmen don't," he said. 

"We need to sort that out. What's important is that we have one more [warm-up] game in hand and before playing Pakistan it'd be good to have the first XI in our head.

"Still there are plenty of positives in the game."

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