Australia to win and qualify for the semi-final
In what is being hailed as quite possibly the most extraordinary performance in the history of One Day International (ODI) cricket, Glenn Maxwell delivered an unforgettable innings, scoring an astonishing 201* off just 128 deliveries, rescuing Australia from the depths of a seemingly insurmountable defeat.
The situation was dire for Australia when they found themselves at 91 for seven, needing 199 runs for victory, with little hope left. However, Maxwell’s unwavering determination and remarkable batting skills refused to concede, leaving a lasting impression on the cricketing world in what could potentially be his last World Cup appearance.
But it’s not just the headlines that Maxwell rewrote; he shattered multiple significant ODI records in the process. Notably, he came agonizingly close to eclipsing the record set by the legendary Sir Vivian Richards, who scored 189* against England in 1987, contributing 69.48% of his team’s total runs. Maxwell’s incredible 201* accounted for 68.60% of Australia’s 293 runs in that match.
Maxwell also etched his name into the history books by surpassing the record for the most runs scored by a number six batter in ODIs, previously held by India’s Kapil Dev for his iconic 175-run knock against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup.
While he couldn’t quite break the record for the highest individual score in an innings, held by Martin Guptill with 237* from the 2015 World Cup, Maxwell’s double-century against Afghanistan is being celebrated as the greatest in the history of the ODI World Cup, owing to the remarkable circumstances he found himself in and the immense stakes involved.
His match-winning knock not only engineered a remarkable comeback for Australia in that game but also turned the tide for the entire tournament. Australia, after suffering losses in their first two games, is now well on their way to the semifinals, with Maxwell’s heroics playing a pivotal role.
What truly sets Maxwell’s performance apart is the adversity he overcame. He battled cramps throughout his innings and even contemplated retiring due to the pain. However, he soldiered on, delivering a double-century without shifting his feet, earning admiration and acclaim worldwide. Today, the cricketing world stands at his feet in recognition of his exceptional achievement.
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Glenn Maxwell– | Player of the Match- It was hot while fielding today, I haven’t done a lot of exercise in the heat, it got a hold on me today. I wanted to stay back and get some movement (on my legs). Not too much (when asked about plans at 92/7), just stick to the batting plans as much as possible, for me, still be positive, still look to play my shots, that LBW, it was going just above (the stumps), probably that made me be more proactive. A hint of swing and nip (off the surface), as it happens here under lights, they bowled beautifully to exploit that. It would have been nice if it was a chanceless knock, but I had my chances, to make the most of it tonight was something I can be proud of. Amazing, after the first two games, people were quick to write us off. The belief was always there (as a team), after today, it would have gone a bit higher.
How do I explain to my future kids that Australia managed to chase 292 after being 91/7 at one stage, while one player in the partnership scored 12 off 68 balls and the other with literally a bad back carried the weight of his team? The day began with Ibrahim Zadran scoring the first ever World Cup century for an Afghan, while Shahidi, Rahmat and Omarzai made supporting contributions. Rashid added a late dash to allow Afghanistan a daunting target. In reply, Travis Head was out for duck and Marsh was trapped LBW by Naveen. Then Omarzai got two in two to leave Austalia at 49/4. Maxwell came out to face a hat-trick ball and survived a scare. Then he was given a life by Shahidi who couldn’t reach to a miscued shot and an LBW review went in his favour as a Noor Ahmad ball was anticipated to go over the stumps. The luckiest break though came when Mujeeb dropped a dolly at short fine. How the Afghan spinner was made to rue that drop. Sensing that it was his day and with nothing to lose, Maxwell went hammer and tongs at the Afghan bowlers. Like Midas had the golden touch, Maxi today had a golden bat as everything he hit went either for four or over the boundary ropes. Maxwell was fighting exhaustion, cramps, a bad back and a motivated Afghan attack. At one stage he was playing with no footwork, just like one of those animated stick cricket characters. But still the Afghan bowlers had no answers. In the end, the highest target ever chased down at Wankhede with more than 3 overs to spare. And this summary cannot be complete without a mention for Pat Cummins who held one end up, remaining not out at 12 off 68 balls. Over to the presentations now…
