Australia's Glenn Maxwell scored the second-fastest hundred in the 40-year history of the World Cup when he reached three figures against Sri Lanka off just 51 balls at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.

The hard-hitting batsman narrowly missed out on breaking the World Cup record of 50 balls for a hundred set by Ireland's Kevin O'Brien against England in Bangalore four years ago.

It was also the first time Maxwell had scored a one-day international hundred in his 45 matches at this level.

Maxwell was eventually out for 102 when he was caught by Lasith Malinga off Thisara Perera, having faced 53 balls including 10 fours and four sixes.
His innings saw him go past South Africa captain AB de Villiers in the World Cup list for quick centuries after the Proteas' skipper struck a 52-ball hundred against the West Indies, also at the SCG, on February 27.

De Villiers though holds the record for the fastest century in any one-day international, off just 31 balls, against the West Indies in Johannesburg on January 18 this year.