Glenn Maxwell’s heroics led Australia into the semi-finals after completing their biggest run chase in a Cricket World Cup match to overcome Afghanistan by three wickets in Mumbai. After being dropped on 33, Australia’s batting order collapsed to 91-7 as they chased Afghanistan’s seemingly insurmountable 291-5.
However, an injured Maxwell carried his side to victory by scoring 201 not out of 128 balls while suffering from different cramps on the field. We’re back for more Cricket World Cup news and make sure to head straight to the best online cricket betting sites in India we have meticulously handpicked for you.
Quick Recap: Australia vs Afghanistan
With 21 fours and 10 sixes in his one-leg cameo, he set a new ODI record for Australia and became only the third player in World Cup history to reach a double century.
Afghanistan had already put on a good show earlier, highlighted by Ibrahim Zadran’s brilliant 129 not out, which made him the first batter from his country to get a century in a World Cup. After taking off Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, and David Warner in quick succession during the powerplay, Afghanistan maintained their onslaught with the ball.
Maxwell and Australia’s captain Pat Cummins put together an undefeated stand of 202 runs, and the opposition’s seamers and spinners had a hard time removing them. It was Australia’s highest eight-wicket partnership, beating the mark of 119 between Shane Warne and Paul Reiffel. Australia advances to third place and the semifinals, while Afghanistan drops to sixth.
Showstopper Performance by Glenn Maxwell
After receiving treatment for his back in the 38th over, Maxwell began audibly whimpering on the field before collapsing in the 40th over due to cramps in his legs. With Australia requiring 47 more runs from 48 balls, replacement Adam Zampa was on the boundary edge, but he staggered back to take guard.
With the prospect of an unprecedented win in sight, the film’s box office performance surged forward with renewed confidence. Maxwell hit the winning runs and claimed one of Australia’s greatest ODI triumphs thanks in large part to Cummins’ defensive work against the ball. In return, Maxwell flogged Mujeeb for six, six, four, and six in the final over.
In the second over, Afghanistan took a big step toward pulling off another World Cup upset when Travis Head nicked behind Ikram Alikhil and was out for zero. The top order wilted under the pressure, and by the 19th over, they had been reduced to 91-7.
Since no Afghan player has ever scored a hat trick at a World Cup, Azmatullah has the chance to make history. When Maxwell was on two, he nicked the ball off the edge of his bat, but it didn’t make it to the wicketkeeper.
Efforts of Afghanistan Went in Vain
Vain Zadran scored his sixth ODI fifty and second World Cup fifty in 61 balls on the way to a record-setting century off 131 bowling strikes.
Australia’s bowlers sweated out overly hot conditions and didn’t get their first breakthrough until Josh Hazlewood caught Rahmanullah Gurbaz at deep square leg in the eighth over. The 83-run partnership between Zadran and Rahmat Shah ended after 17 overs when Maxwell had Rahmat Shah caught at long-off.
After 10 overs of hard work, Adam Zampa got compensated with a wicket when Maxwell caught Azmatullah at long-off. After missing with a heave to the leg side, Hazlewood splashed Mohammad Nabi’s stumps to tidy up the tail.
Player of the Match: Glenn Maxwell
Maxwell was dismissed on 33 at short fine leg by Mujeeb Ur Rahman in the 22nd over, which turned out to be just one of the numerous expensive mistakes Afghanistan made in the field.
The 35-year-old, who was sidelined with concussion for his team’s win against England on Saturday after a fall from a golf buggy the week before, miraculously returned to save the day. He reached fifty in just 51 balls and went on to reach a hundred in 76, with Cummins helping to steady the ship on the other end.
Score: Australia v Afghanistan
| Australia | 293/7 | 46.5 overs |
| Afghanistan | 291/5 | 50 overs |
| Australia won by 3 wickets | ||
Afghanistan’s modest 233-5 total looked like a formidable 291-5 thanks to an explosive unbroken combination between Rashid Khan and Zadran, which the Australian bowlers were unable to halt. On Wednesday, England will play the Netherlands in Pune. Despite being eliminated from the World Cup, the current champions still have a chance to play in the Champions Trophy if they place in the top seven. Picking the best online cricket betting sites India will make your whole World Cup experience tenfold better. TopCricketBetting can help you with that so sign up and start betting on your favorite teams!