Australia secured a thrilling victory against Afghanistan, triumphing by three wickets in match number 39 of the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 on Tuesday. The clash at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium witnessed an extraordinary performance by Glenn Maxwell, whose unbeaten 201 runs off 128 balls led the Kangaroos to successfully chase down a target of 293 runs with just 7 wickets lost in 46.5 overs. Maxwell's exceptional partnership of 202 runs with captain Pat Cummins for the eighth wicket showcased the resilience of the Australian team.
Despite a precarious start that saw Australia struggling at 91 runs for 7 wickets, Maxwell's destructive innings turned the tide in their favour. With this win, Australia has secured a spot in the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup 2023, marking their sixth consecutive victory in the tournament and accumulating a total of 12 points.
Joining India and South Africa, Australia became the third team to qualify for the final four. India remains at the top of the points table, while Australia and South Africa follow closely with 12 points each. Consequently, the second semi-final will take place between the second and third-placed teams, namely Australia and South Africa, at Kolkata's Eden Gardens on 16 November.
Notably, Australia suffered a defeat against South Africa in their second match of the ODI World Cup 2023 in Lucknow on 12 October. The upcoming semi-final in Kolkata presents an opportunity for Australia to seek redemption against the Proteas. It is worth mentioning that the historic Eden Gardens was where the team clinched its first ODI World Cup title after 36 years under the leadership of Allan Border.
Pakistan's situation remains uncertain, as their placement in the league table may influence the venue and date of the second semi-final. If Pakistan secures the fourth spot in the ODI World Cup 2023, the India vs Pakistan semi-final will take place at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Meanwhile, the Australia-South Africa semi-final will be held at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. However, if Pakistan fails to qualify, the semi-final will feature India against New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium on 15th November.
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