Glenn Maxwell achieved an extraordinary feat, securing a three-wicket victory for Australia and securing their spot in the knockout stage single-handedly.
The Wankhede Stadium had never witnessed a successful chase of over 280 runs before, and this record seemed poised to continue when Australia found themselves at 91 for the loss of seven wickets while chasing 292.
At that moment, Afghanistan was only three wickets away from what would have been a historic World Cup upset and a likely spot in the semifinals.
However, Glenn Maxwell staged a remarkable solo performance, orchestrating an incredible turnaround to secure a three-wicket victory for Australia and ensure their spot in the knockout stage.
Glenn Maxwell and his teammates celebrate after defeating Afghanistan
Ibrahim Zadran scored Afghanistan’s first-ever century in World Cups, and their bowlers took early wickets. Afghanistan was close to a famous victory, but Glenn Maxwell’s unbeaten 201 and 202-run partnership with Pat Cummins turned the game in Australia’s favour.
Maxwell’s performance at the Wankhede Stadium garnered widespread praise from the cricketing world, with individuals like Ben Stokes and legendary cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag declaring it the “greatest ODI innings ever.”
The GREATEST ODI innings of all time @Gmaxi_32 .. You could say the GREATEST innings of all time .. #CWC2023 #India
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) November 7, 2023
My goodness Maxi 😮😮😮
— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) November 7, 2023
A wonderful knock by @IZadran18 to put Afghanistan in a good position. They started well in the 2nd half and played good cricket for 70 overs but the last 25 overs from @Gmaxi_32 was more than enough to change their fortune.
From Max pressure to Max performance! This has been… pic.twitter.com/M1CBulAgKw
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) 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
What made Maxwell’s innings remarkable was his determination to surpass all limits. The hot and humid conditions in Mumbai had taken a toll on him during his historic innings. At one point, he was visibly struggling, hobbling for singles and even going down in pain, clutching his thigh. However, he persevered. With limited movement and despite the physical discomfort, Maxwell reached 150 and continued to power on to 201*, securing Australia’s spot in the semifinals.
“It would have been nice if it was a chanceless knock, but I had my chances, to make the most of it tonight was something I can be proud of. Amazing, after the first two games, people were quick to write us off. The belief was always there (as a team), after today, it would have gone a bit higher,” He mentioned during the post-match presentation after receiving the Player of the Match award.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
