Maxwell's Heroics leads Australia to a 3-Wicket victory

Maxwell’s Swashbuckling Double Hundred Leads Australia to 3-Wicket Victory over Afghanistan

Maxwell saves Australia from defeat as he plays one of the greatest white-ball innings of all time.

Thanks to a remarkable showing by Glenn Maxwell, Australia have advanced to the World Cup semi-final. Despite having back problems and cramps, Glenn Maxwell played a remarkable role in helping Australia win the match as he made his return to the side.

With 19 deliveries remaining, Glenn Maxwell’s knock of 201 from 128 balls propelled Australia past Afghanistan and into the semifinals of the World Cup, making history as he became the first non-opener to score a double hundred in an ODI innings.

As Australia chased down their target of 292 runs, Maxwell ended his greatest ODI knock, swiping the ball over the boundary without moving his legs due to cramps that prevented him from running between the wickets. In addition to hitting 10 sixes, he blasted 21 fours, the last one coming off the last ball of the game.

Australia, which had to chase 292 runs, had fallen to 91-7, but Maxwell’s century propelled his side back into the hunt, helping the five-time winners reach 186-7.

All-rounder Maxwell, the final recognized batsman for Australia, was on 33 when Mujeeb Ur Rahman dropped an easy catch at short fine leg, putting them in serious trouble.

Maxwell went on to make a 51-ball fifty. He then added insult to injury for Afghanistan by completing a century with just 25 more balls.

Earlier, Travis Head nicked a catch behind the wicket off of Naveen-ul-Haq in his very first over. After Mitchell Marsh launched an attempt to increase the scoring pace, a magnificent delivery from Naveen eventually removed him. The ball slipped in and thudded into his pads, and the umpire raised his finger in response to an appeal. In the ninth over, Australia was reduced from 49/2 to 49/4 thanks to a double strike by Azmatullah Omarzai.

Afghanistan’s cricket history was created by 21-year-old Ibrahim Zadran, who scored the nation’s first-ever World Cup hundred, which helped them reach a creditable 291 for 5 against Australia.

Afghanistan’s strategy was mostly conservative, but there were some brilliant moments as well, since Australia’s pacers were not receiving any support off the ground or in the air from the beginning.

Afghanistan gained much-needed momentum in the middle overs thanks to a stunning 18-ball 22 scored by Azmatullah Omarzai, who hit two sixes and a four. Adam Zampa removed him, making him the second-highest wicket-taker in this World Cup. Rashid Khan struck a rapid 35* from 18 balls towards the finish.