
Severely hampered by cramps and struggling to move, Glenn Maxwell delivered one of the most remarkable one-day innings in cricket history. He scored an unbeaten 201 off 128 balls, rescuing Australia from a perilous situation and guiding them to a sensational three-wicket triumph over Afghanistan in Match 39 of the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup. This remarkable performance also ensured Australia’s place in the semifinals at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday.
At one point, Australia appeared to be heading for a humiliating defeat as they slumped to 91/7 in the 19th over while chasing Afghanistan’s competitive total of 291/5. Afghanistan’s score was primarily built on the foundation of Ibrahim Zadran’s historic century (129 not out off 143 balls) and a brisk 35 off 18 balls by Rashid Khan.
However, the tide turned when Glenn Maxwell and skipper Pat Cummins came together, producing a monumental 202-run partnership for the 8th wicket. Of those runs, Maxwell contributed an astonishing 179, while Cummins remained undefeated with 12 runs from 68 balls.
Maxwell’s heroics were evident as he held firm when Australia was teetering at 91/7 and was involved in the run-out of Marnus Labuschagne. With only 21 runs required off the last four overs, Maxwell unleashed a breathtaking onslaught, scoring 22 runs off four deliveries in the 47th over, despite his physical limitations.
Their 202-run partnership became the highest 8th wicket stand for Australia, surpassing the previous record of 119 runs set by Paul Reiffel and Shane Warne against South Africa in 1993-94. This partnership marked the third double-century stand in World Cup history and the first in India.
Maxwell’s innings concluded with an unbeaten 201 off 128 deliveries, featuring 21 boundaries and 10 sixes. This incredible performance secured Australia’s place in the semifinals as the third-placed team with 12 points from eight matches.
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Afghanistan had themselves to blame as they dropped two catches of Maxwell and missed an LBW opportunity.
Australia found themselves in deep trouble, reduced to 87/6 in the 15th over, with seamers Naveen-ul-Haq and Azmatullah Omarzai making early inroads and Rashid Khan claiming two wickets with his spin.
Maxwell, who survived a close LBW decision on review and was fortunate with two dropped catches at 27 and 33 (by Mujeeb Ur Rahman), showcased remarkable resilience as he scored a brilliant century, making the most of his numerous lives to guide Australia to an improbable victory.
Maxwell and skipper Pat Cummins stitched together a 100-run partnership for the 8th wicket in 89 balls, with Maxwell contributing 86 of those runs and Cummins adding just six, along with eight extras. Australia was 199/7 in the 34th over and back in the game.
With Australia needing 47 runs from 42 balls, Maxwell hammered 16 runs off Azmatullah, including two superb fours and a brilliant six. He followed it up with a six off Naveen-ul-Haq in the next over, making the target a manageable 26 runs from 30 balls.
Australia had seemed destined for defeat in the first powerplay as Afghanistan claimed four early wickets.
Australia’s first powerplay ended with them at 52/4, facing a dire situation.
Their plight worsened in the 15th over when Marnus Labuschagne was run out after a mix-up with Maxwell, leaving Australia at 69/5.
Maxwell struck Mujeeb Ur Rahman for consecutive fours in the 16th over, and Marcus Stoinis added a boundary off Rashid Khan. However, Stoinis fell to a reverse sweep off a googly from Khan, leaving Australia at 87/6.
Maxwell, surviving a close LBW call and dropped chances at 27 and 33, continued to flourish. He completed his fifty off 51 deliveries, accelerating to the next fifty in just 25 balls, with three fours and three sixes, eventually reaching his century in 76 balls. Australia reached 200 runs in the 35th over and appeared to be on course for victory.
In the 32nd over, Maxwell took on Mujeeb Ur Rehman, striking him for a boundary and a six. As Australia crossed the 150-run mark, Maxwell celebrated by hitting Mujeeb Ur Rehman for two consecutive sixes in the 29th over, firmly taking control of the match.
Earlier in the game, Ibrahim Zadran played a pivotal role in anchoring the Afghanistan innings, scoring an unbeaten 129 off 143 balls, helping his team post a competitive total of 291/5 in 50 overs.
Zadran was responsible for three crucial half-century partnerships in the innings, contributing 83 runs for the second wicket with Rahmat Shah (30), 52 for the third wicket with Hashmatullah Shahidi (28), and an unbeaten 58-run partnership for the sixth wicket with Rashid Khan (35 not out off 18). They added 75 runs off the last six overs.
This century was Zadran’s fifth in ODIs, achieved in his 27th match and marked Afghanistan’s first three-figure score in a World Cup.
Nonetheless, Afghanistan struggled initially, scoring just 46/1 in Power-play 1. At the halfway mark (25th over), Afghanistan’s score was 122/2, scoring at a rate of 4.88 runs per over. However, they accelerated, adding 96 runs in the final 10 overs to post a competitive total.
Australia’s bowlers had contained Afghanistan’s batsmen at the start, allowing only 46/1 in Power-play 1. Zadran and Rahmat Shah forged an 83-run partnership for the second wicket, with Zadran completing his fifty off 62 balls, featuring six boundaries.
Zadran and Shah managed to take the score past 100 runs, but Rahmat Shah’s dismissal allowed Glenn Maxwell to make a crucial breakthrough. After Zadran’s century, Afghanistan lost two quick wickets, with Azmatullah Omarzai (22 off 18) and Mohammad Nabi (12 off 10) falling in succession. However, Rashid Khan joined Zadran and altered the game’s course.
Zadran took on Adam Zampa, striking his first six, and then flicked Mitchell Starc for another six. In the final over, Rashid Khan hit a couple of massive sixes, finishing with a spectacular shot over deep square in the penultimate ball. Afghanistan managed to score 75 runs off the last six overs, but it proved insufficient due to dropped catches.