In a stunning turn of events at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday, November 7, Glenn Maxwell’s extraordinary double century propelled Australia into the World Cup semifinals with a historic run chase of 291 against Afghanistan.
Maxwell, named Player of the Match, delivered a phenomenal performance with an unbeaten 201 off 128 balls, securing Australia’s highest-ever successful run chase in ODI World Cup history. Facing a target of 292, Australia initially faced a challenging situation as Afghanistan’s seamers applied relentless pressure. Travis Head departed for a duck, caught behind off an out-swinging delivery.
Despite early setbacks, Mitchell Marsh (24 off 11 balls), David Warner (18 off 29 balls), and Marnus Labuschagne (14 off 28 balls) attempted to stabilize the innings. However, it was the partnership between Maxwell and Pat Cummins that turned the tide. Maxwell’s breathtaking strokes and Cummins’ sensible batting resulted in a record-breaking eighth-wicket stand of 202 runs, guiding Australia to victory.
Notably, Maxwell battled cramps throughout his innings, showcasing remarkable resilience. In the earlier innings, Afghanistan’s Ibrahim Zadran played a crucial role, scoring his maiden ODI World Cup century with 129 runs off 143 balls. Despite contributions from other batsmen, it was Rashid Khan’s explosive cameo (35* runs off 18 balls) that added firepower, allowing Afghanistan to post 291 on the scoreboard.
This remarkable victory for Australia solidifies their place in the World Cup semifinals, thanks to Maxwell’s Herculean efforts and a record-breaking partnership with Cummins.
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