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Afghanistan's hopes were dashed by Australia and Glenn Maxwell in a heart-wrenching match on November 7 in Mumbai during their World Cup 2023 clash, Afghanistan, captained by Hashmatullah Shahidi, opted to bat first after winning the toss at the Wankhede Stadium.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran provided a solid opening, and Afghanistan hit the 100-run mark in 20.2 overs. The partnership between Rahmat Shah and Ibrahim Zadran was crucial, culminating in an impressive unbeaten 58-run stand for the second wicket. With Zadran's exceptional performance, Afghanistan set a total of 291 runs, including an outstanding century by Zadran - the first in Afghanistan's World Cup history.
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Australia's chase encountered early setbacks with the dismissals of Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh. Subsequently, David Warner and Josh Inglis fell consecutively, leaving Australia struggling at 49 for four. The departures of Labuschagne, Stoinis, and Starc further dented Australia's hopes, until Glenn Maxwell's extraordinary unbeaten 201 turned the tide, leading to a stunning comeback and shattering Afghanistan's aspirations.
Afghanistan's semi-final chances
Despite the setback, Afghanistan still has a chance to reach the World Cup 2023 semi-finals. Their next crucial encounter against South Africa in Ahmedabad is vital. Securing a victory could grant them an advantage, but their lower run rate compared to Pakistan and New Zealand means they must secure a convincing win over South Africa or hope for defeats for both New Zealand and Pakistan in their upcoming matches.
Remaining match for Afghanistan:
vs South Africa on November 10 in Ahmedabad.
Remaining match for New Zealand:
vs Sri Lanka on November 9 in Bangalore.
Remaining match for Pakistan:
vs England on November 11 in Kolkata
Glenn Maxwell magic
While writhing in pain from cramps, Maxwell was on the ground when Cummins indicated to Adam Zampa to be prepared to step in for the run chase. Despite the discomfort, Maxwell persevered and relied heavily on boundaries, even when Australia required more than 50 runs. Cummins disclosed that the physiotherapist advised Maxwell against contemplating a return, cautioning that the situation might deteriorate if he persisted.
"I thought he was going off. So, I kind of signalled to Zamps (Adam Zampa) to get down here cause yeah, he (Maxwell) literally couldn't move and then I think the physio was out there obviously. He kind of convinced Maxi that if he came off, it might be worse off. So, try and hang out there, stand up, and that's probably your best bet,” he said.
"Because once you go off it's that much cramp but there's no guarantee you're going to get back out there,” added Cummins.
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