In the SCG players' area, David Warner sits and grins as the runs continue to pile up. Shane Watson gets in on the action by blasting a full toss over the leg-side fence for six. The big man is enjoying himself lower down the order.

Maxwell continues his assault with a mis-hit which just evades the fielder at mid-off and then rolls for four. Another six sails over square leg, meaning Maxwell is on course to beat the record for the fastest World Cup century which is 50 balls.

Image source, Reuters

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Glenn Maxwell knows where all the fielders are in his head, and he either clears them or bisects them. Bowling a length at Maxwell is a perilous thing, and he is just shredding them."

Listen to live TMS commentary by clicking on the audio icon.

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

Glenn Maxwell has now scored three of Australia's five fastest World Cup fifties. The top five...

• 21 balls: Maxwell v Afghanistan, Perth, 2015

• 26 balls: Maxwell v Sri Lanka, Sydney, 2015

• 28 balls: Tom Moody v Bangladesh, Chester-le-Street

• 28 balls: Shane Watson v New Zealand, Grenada

• 30 balls: Maxwell v England, Melbourne, 2015

Maxwell has only played four World Cup matches.

Image source, Reuters

I don't subscribe to the theory that so many modern batsman can score at 360 degrees, but Glenn Maxwell can. A switch hit goes for four, but he's lucky to get away with a lofted shot into the leg side which just evades the tumbling fielder running in from the boundary edge. Instead, the mis-timed shot brings another three.

Scotty Reynolds, external: If Maxwell and Watson are still around after over number 45, around 380 will be the target.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"This is ugly and tough on Prasanna. Bowling a length to the likes of Maxwell is a pretty perilous thing to do."

Anything is possible in the last 10 overs. Glenn Maxwell is rampant - fours coming through mid-wicket and then through backward square as the batsman splits the field using what is not far from a photographic memory. It's as though he can place where the fielders are to within a blade of grass. Prasanna can't do anything as another full delivery is clobbered over mid-wicket. Seventeen from the over, and the partnership is now worth 93 off 51 balls.

Shane Watson is playing a blinder too. He guides a wide yorker for four, but Lasith Malinga recovers to limit these two bowling butchers to four singles in the rest of the over.

There's is an excitable hum enveloping the SCG now as Glenn Maxwell moves to his half-century by clattering a low full toss over the leg side fence. This is must-not-miss, wait-for-your-toilet-break cricket. Thisara Perera is the latest Sri Lankan to the slaughter as the slender, blue-eyed Maxwell gives himself room to play another big shot but fails to connect with a slower ball.

Image source, Getty Images

Who is the most thrilling batsman in cricket? Maxwell? De Villiers? Buttler even?

Shane Watson is happy to just turn the strike over to Glenn Maxwell, especially with Lasith Malinga bowling. The destructive right-hander stands and takes guard before the bowler is even ready, subtly looking around the field under his helmet. He knows where everyone is placed and gives himself room to cream a yorker over extra cover for four.

A single does put Watson back on strike and the strapping all-rounder clobbers successive fours. Motoring.

Image source, Getty Images

The Sri Lanka fans are not worried about Glenn Maxwell. They are playing a trombone, waving flags and generally just having a good time.

Maxwell is dominating out in the middle now though, sweeping leg-spinner Prasana for six. He makes unorthodox shots look easy, reverse sweeping another boundary to fine leg. Seventeen from the over.

Image source, Reuters

Malinga v Maxwell. Tasty. Even the man with the fastest hands in cricket can't do much with four successive yorkers - a single to cover is all he can manage. Watson collects singles off the first and last balls of an over that costs only three. Well bowled, Lasith.

Image source, Getty Images

The batting powerplay is taken. This could get interesting.

Jim Maxwell
BBC Test Match Special

"I don't know whether he's done much boxing, but he's got fast hands and his hand-eye co-ordination is extraordinary."

Glenn Maxwell is not going to play himself in, purposefully playing lofted cover drives over the close fielders. The first one brings two, the second one four and the third one six. Instant momentum.

No pace on the ball as these two look to get started. Glenn Maxwell doesn't mind, and he comes hard at Senanayake and the ball flies off the straight bat and over wide mid-off for four. A reverse-sweep brings a single. Australian's million dollar IPL man has a strike-rate of 180 in this tournament so far. Expect fireworks.

Image source, Getty Images

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"There might be a bit of pressure on Watson - in the sense that he might be a bit wary and want to get a score, in a new position."

So the under-pressure Shane Watson, who has been demoted to number six, joins fellow new boy Glenn Maxwell in the middle.

Russel Arnold
Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special

"He had a long way to run back. That was hit so high by Steve Smith. Dilshan gets the breakthrough, deceiving Steve Smith in the air. A lot of bowlers these days fire it in - you've got to use flight."

Sri Lanka are absolutely delighted as they make a double breakthrough, sending both set batsmen packing. This time Steve Smith goes aerial against Dilshan but doesn't get enough legs on it and picks out Perera, who takes a superb tumbling catch over his shoulder, running back from mid-off.

Scorecard

Image source, Getty Images