Afghanistan could not continue their giant-killing spree as they met with a hard-hitting roadblock in Glenn ‘Mad’ Maxwell at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. From 91/7, the hard-hitting cramped-up hand-eye coordination menace that is Maxwell rescued the five-time World Champions with a record-breaking 201 as they chased down 292 to seal their spot in World Cup 2023 semi-finals. Maxwell played the best-ever innings in World Cup history to snatch a win from the jaws of defeat to stun Afghanistan.
Earlier, Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and opted to bat first. Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz got Afghanistan off to a decent start. In his fourth over, Josh Hazlewood broke the partnership. Gurbaz departed for a 25-ball 21 after playing a loose shot. While Rahmat Shah took his time, Zadran got to his half-century from 62 balls. Shah fell to Maxwell in the 25th over after scoring 30 runs from 44 balls. Shahidi struggled to score freely and got bowled by Mitchell Starc for a 43-ball 26 in the 28th over. Afghanistan needed to boost their net run rate. Azmatullah Omarzai did it with few big shots. But Adam Zampa got his wicket in the 43rd over. He contributed with an 18-ball 22.
In the 44th over, Zadran got to his century from 131 balls. He accelerated after reaching the three figures and hit Zampa for a six in the next over. Mohammad Nabi hit Hazlewood for a six and then got bowled. Rashid Khan wreaked havoc in the slog overs. Zadran took on Australian pacers as well. Rashid's wristy shots left Australians clueless. In the last over, he hit Starc for two sixes and a four. Rashid's unbeaten 18-ball 35 included three sixes and a couple of fours. Zadran scored 129 runs from 143 balls featuring eight fours and three sixes to help Afghanistan post 291/5. It is the third-highest individual score against Australia in World Cups.
Australia's run chase was derailed early by Naveen-ul-Haq. Travis Head edged one to Ikram Alikhil as he departed for a two-ball duck. Mitchell Marsh tried to put pressure on Omarzai and Naveen with a six and four each against them. In the sixth over, Naveen trapped Marsh in front of the stumps. The opener departed for a 11-ball 24. David Warner got carried away and went for a wreckless heave to get bowled by Omarzai. He departed for a 29-ball 18. The Josh Inglis departed for a golden duck. Marnus Labuschagne was trying to soak up the pressure but got run out after a terrible mix-up with Maxwell.
After doing damage with the bat, Rashid struck with the ball to dismiss Marcus Stoinis who got out lbw playing a reverse sweep. In his next over, Starc was dismissed in a bizarre manner. The ball had flicked the stumps and he was given out caught behind. He chose not to review the decision as well. Maxwell was troubled by Noor Ahmad. He used the DRS well to reverse the lbw decision. Then Mujeeb Ur Rahman dropped his catch at short fine. After seven wickets fell for 91 in the 19th over, he found the perfect partner in skipper Cummins.
Maxwell reached his half-century with a boundary off Noor in the 26th over. He hit him for two sixes in the 29th over to put pressure on Afghanistan. He took on Mujeeb as well and reached his century from just 76 balls in the 33rd over. Cummins just blocked it out whereas Maxwell took the risks to dominate the bowlers in the middle overs.
Maxwell was then tested by cramps in Mumbai weather. Afghanistan had no answer to Maxwell’s sensational hitting. He kept on hitting fours and sixes as he was having a net session. As he struggled to even take a single, he relied on boundaries. In the 42nd over, he reached 150 from 104 balls. Afghan bowlers could not find the block hole and the unorthodox Maxwell found ways to find gaps. He braved cramps and took singles as Cummins’ struggle to score continued.
Cummins barely scored any runs as Maxwell broke Andrew Strauss' record of highest score in a World Cup run chase. Soon, he broke Warner's highest score for Australia in the World Cup. In the 47th over, he wrapped up the proceedings with three sixes and one four off Mujeeb. He completed his double century from 128 balls. Australia won the match by three wickets and 19 balls to spare. His knock featured 21 fours and 10 sixes. Maxwell and Cummins shared an unbeaten 202-run partnership for the eighth wicket.
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