In the 39th game of the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023, Australia and Afghanistan locked horns at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Ahead of the game, the former champions were coming off five back-to-back wins. On the other hand, the Asian side was coming off a hat-trick of wins. Meanwhile, with the semifinal on stake, the Blue Brigade won the toss and elected to bat first.
They had a decent start with openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran tackling the new ball well for eight overs. On the last ball of the eighth over, the former was caught at backward square leg by Mitchell Starc off Josh Hazlewood. At 38/1, the likes of Zadran and Rahmat Shah added 83 runs for the second wicket. The former got to 30 before being caught at long-on by Hazlewood off Glenn Maxwell.
Skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi (26 off 43 balls) struggled during his innings before being cleaned up by Starc. All-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai (22) and former skipper Mohammad Nabi (12) played cameos. Meanwhile, Zadran (129*) became the first Afghan player to score a hundred in an ODI World Cup match. Apart from him, Rashid Khan (35* off 18) helped the team reach a competitive total of 291/5.
Afghanistan had a dream start but Glenn Maxwell took the game away single-handedly
In reply, the five-time winners kept losing wickets that derailed their run chase. Naveen-ul-Haq started the proceedings with a wicket of Travis Head in the second over. The former took the second wicket in the form of Mitchell Marsh, who was playing in place of Steve Smith. On the other hand, after conceding 14 runs in his first over, Omarzai took the wickets of David Warner and Josh Inglis in the ninth over of the innings.
Things went worse as Marnus Labuschagne got run out and Rashid Khan took two wickets to reduce the Yellow Brigade to 91/7. However, thanks to two chances to Maxwell, he managed to keep the team in the game alongside skipper Pat Cummins. They put together an unbeaten 202 runs with Maxwell getting his maiden double-hundred and becoming the first Australian to do so. They ended up winning the game by three wickets.
This is how Twitter reacted
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
Last night we saw an event that’s never happened before in 146 years! Tonight this!
Maxwell!!!! ?????????????????— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 7, 2023
My goodness Maxi ???
— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) November 7, 2023
Saw this coming. 200 in a run-chase, One of the all time great one day innings by Maxwell. @Gmaxi_32 was a man possessed and
great support by @patcummins30 . An innings to remember for a long long time . #AUSvsAFG https://t.co/ClOM3NdSJf pic.twitter.com/nQ8uNVh1af— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) November 7, 2023
