Australia and Afghanistan squared off in the 39th match of the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. The former champions had won five straight games prior to the game. The Asian team, on the other hand, had just completed a hat-trick of victories. Meanwhile, the Blue Brigade won the toss and chose to bat first with the semifinal on the line. Player Glenn Maxwell was the star of the match.
They got off to a good start, with openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran batting well for eight overs. Mitchell Starc caught the former at backward square leg off Josh Hazlewood on the last ball of the eighth over. At 38/1, Zadran and Rahmat Shah combined for 83 runs for the second wicket. The former made it to 30 before being caught at long-on off Glenn Maxwell by Hazlewood.
Hashmatullah Shahidi (26 off 43 balls) struggled throughout his inning before being cleaned up by Starc. Azmatullah Omarzai (22) and former captain Mohammad Nabi (12) made brief appearances. Meanwhile, Zadran (129*) made history by becoming the first Afghan player to score a century in an ODI World Cup match. Rashid Khan (35* off 18) also contributed to the team’s competitive total of 291/5.
Player Glenn Maxwell win:
In response, the five-time champions continued to lose wickets, delaying their run chase. Travis Head was bowled in the second over by Naveen-ul-Haq, who started the proceedings. Mitchell Marsh, who was filling in for Steve Smith, was the second wicket taken by the former. Omarzai, on the other hand, took the wickets of David Warner and Josh Inglis in the ninth over of the innings after conceding 14 runs in his first over.
Marnus Labuschagne was run out, and Rashid Khan took two wickets to reduce the Yellow Brigade to 91/7. However, with two chances, Maxwell kept the team in the game alongside skipper Pat Cummins. They scored an unbeaten 202 runs, with Maxwell scoring his maiden century and becoming the first Australian to do so. They eventually won the game by three wickets. Check out the fan’s reaction to this historic win below.
Maxwell's place in history just got guaranteed. It has to be the greatest white ball innings played
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 7, 2023
Some match winning innings are such that you just stand up and applaud. An inning to remember for lifetime by Maxwell 👏 👏 #AUSvAFG pic.twitter.com/zoCQeztbBE
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) November 7, 2023
The BEST ever ODI innings…201* on one leg. In a run-chase of 292…where Australia were 91/7. Speechless.
Also, Is it the first ODI double-century in a run-chase??? #CWC23 #AusvAfg— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) November 7, 2023
DOUBLE HUNDRED BY GLENN MAXWELL….!!!!
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE KNOCK – THIS IS GOD LEVEL… YOU'RE ASTONISHING MAXI ..!!!! pic.twitter.com/J2bHRdu3zu
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 7, 2023
Got to be one of the greatest ODI innings ever ….#Maxwell 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) November 7, 2023
Double Hundred for Maxiii!!!!!! We just saw the greatest ODI knock ever. Single handedly, you won the game for Australia. Maxwell, you deserve nothing but respect. Congratulations🥳.
— Bhawana (@bhawnakohli5) November 7, 2023
201* (128) – The greatest ODI knock ever? 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zBaYeaGnnR
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) November 7, 2023
So, this was all about the player Glenn Maxwell bagging victory for Australia. Also read, Cricketer Angelo Mathews drops ‘proofs’ of being not out.
