The Wankhede Stadium witnessed an extraordinary ODI innings as Glenn Maxwell rescued Australia from near-defeat against Afghanistan in Match 39 of the 2023 ICC men’s ODI World Cup.
Despite having a target of 292, the Afghan bowlers dominated the Australian batsmen, causing them significant trouble and bringing their score to a precarious 91/7 in 18.3 overs.
Maxwell had a different strategy in mind. He had to unleash his full power, and he did just that. It became evident that it was his lucky day when Mujeeb Ur Rahman missed an easy catch when Maxwell was at just 33 runs.
Despite initial challenges, Maxwell’s extraordinary performance helped Australia secure an unprecedented victory. He transitioned from 27 runs off 36 balls to a remarkable 174 runs in just 92 deliveries.
His aggressive batting style, which included 21 fours and ten sixes, was the driving force behind Australia’s win. Despite battling cramps and a back spasm, he led his team to victory.
In the 47th over, Maxwell’s explosive hitting not only sealed a place in the semifinals but also made him the first Australian to score a double century in an ODI.
#1 Highest run-scoring performance against spinners in a single ODI innings
In the past, teams used to target Maxwell with wicket-taking spinners to disrupt his performance. However, due to his exceptional ability to play unorthodox shots and his incredible power, he has evolved into one of the most formidable hitters against slower bowlers.
On Tuesday, Maxwell achieved the record for the highest number of runs scored against spinners in a single ODI innings. While he managed 52 runs against fast bowlers, a staggering 149 runs were scored against spinners.
His 149-run innings now holds the record for the most runs in an ODI innings against spinners, surpassing Sean Williams, who had previously scored 132 out of his 174 runs against spinners in an ICC 2023 World Cup qualifiers match against the USA earlier this year.
#2 Top ODI score from position 6 or lower
Maxwell entered the batting at position 6 when Australia were struggling at 49/4 during the powerplay. His incredible 201* is now the highest individual score by any batter positioned at number 6 or lower in ODI cricket.
This performance surpasses Kapil Dev’s iconic 175 runs against Zimbabwe in the 1983 World Cup, which previously held the second spot. Maxwell’s 201* also stands as the highest individual score when batting at No. 6 in List-A cricket, surpassing David Wiese’s 171 for Sussex in 2019.
#3 Top ODI partnership for the 7th wicket or lower
Maxwell and Cummins formed an unbeaten partnership of 202 runs for the eighth wicket against Afghanistan. While Maxwell was the primary run-scorer, Cummins’ contribution was equally valuable.
This remarkable 202-run partnership now holds the record for the highest seventh-wicket or lower partnership in one-day internationals, surpassing the 177-run partnership between Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid in an ODI against New Zealand in Birmingham in 2015.
#4 The highest ODI score ever achieved by the Australian cricket team
After playing 994 ODIs, Australia has welcomed its first double centurion. The five-time World Cup champions have a rich history of producing exceptional batting talents.
However, Maxwell’s 201* has now set a new record as the highest individual score for the Australian team in ODI cricket, surpassing Shane Watson’s previous record of 185* against Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2011.
#5 First ODI double century by a non-opener
Before the Australia vs. Afghanistan match, there were 10 ODI double centuries, all of which were scored by opening batsmen. From Sachin Tendulkar’s 200* against South Africa to Shubman Gill’s 208 against New Zealand, the list was dominated by openers.
Maxwell, who batted at No. 6, has now broken this trend by becoming the first non-opening batsman to achieve a double century in an ODI innings.
#6 The first ODI double century achieved by a batsman while chasing a target
In the past, all the previous double centuries were scored while batting first, providing the batters more freedom to play their shots. Chasing a target can be challenging due to scoreboard pressure.
Maxwell, however, displayed remarkable composure against Afghanistan as he secured his team’s victory while chasing 292 in Mumbai. His unbeaten 201* is now the first-ever double century achieved while chasing in One-Day International history.
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