Mumbai, November 8: Glenn Maxwell’s heroic performance led Australia to an incredible three-wicket win against Afghanistan in the 39th match of the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium, taking their team to the semi-finals. Chasing Afghanistan’s target of 291/5, Australia was tottering at 91/7 and looked certain to lose, but Maxwell’s brilliant innings of 201 not out from 128 balls changed the course of the game.
Ibrahim Zadran’s historic century (129 off 143 balls) and Rashid Khan’s quickfire 35 took Afghanistan to a competitive score. Australia had to struggle in the beginning, but Maxwell, along with captain Pat Cummins, made a brilliant partnership of 202 runs for the 8th wicket. Maxwell’s resilience despite severe cramps was a standout feature as he single-handedly turned the match in Australia’s favor.
Maxwell’s unbeaten 201, which included 21 fours and 10 maximums, not only saved Australia but also secured their place in the semi-finals. His innings, underlining his determination and skill, rewrote the record as the highest 8th wicket partnership for Australia in ODI history.
I N C R E D I B L E 🤯
An unbelievable 201* from @Gmaxi_32 overnight led our Aussie men to a three wicket win over Afghanistan and secured our spot in the #CWC23 semi-finals! pic.twitter.com/UzthqqGH8m
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) November 7, 2023
Despite missed chances and a few lucky escapes, Maxwell’s brilliant performance, which included important partnerships and exceptional hitting, lifted Australia from the brink of defeat to a spectacular victory.
Earlier in the game, Afghanistan set a challenging target led by Zadran’s extraordinary innings. Zadran’s innings of 129 runs and the support of partnerships throughout the innings took Afghanistan to a competitive score. However, despite a strong finish from Rashid Khan with aggressive play, his efforts fell short in comparison to Maxwell’s exceptional performance.
Maxwell’s extraordinary innings not only led Australia to a miraculous victory but also showcased his ability to handle pressure and lead his team to victory in dire circumstances.
Also, After this Glenn Maxwell shares a thank-you note on the social media platform “X” and says thanks to his caption Pat Cummins.
Pretty overwhelmed with all the ❤️ Thank you so much to everyone that has sent messages. @patcummins30 was amazing out there! Sorry I knocked back a couple 🫣
Time to get back to dad duties 👨👩👦❤️
— Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) November 8, 2023
We witnessed magic 💫🤩#CWC23 #AUSvAFG pic.twitter.com/qehOMbHufq
— ICC (@ICC) November 7, 2023