Glenn Maxwell scores double ton against Afghanistan, help Aussies qualify for semifinals
Mumbai : Glenn Maxwell was a treat to watch on Tuesday as he scored double ton against Afghanistan to take his team to the ICC World Cup 2023 semi-finals.
It must be noted that Glen Maxwell was suffering through cramps during the latter of his innings, but he stayed on the crease and scored the highest individual score in a Cricket World Cup chase. With his remarkable inning, Australia has now secured their birth in the semifinals of the tournament.
Talking about Afghanistan, the team held a splendid show in the first innings with century of Ibrahim Zadran (129*), sturdy knocks from the middle-order batters, and a hefty charge by the lower-order. Also, the bowlers started off well with some quick wickets. Naveen-ul-Haq struck in the very first over who got Travis Head to nick one behind the wicket.
Mitchell Marsh attacked to pick up the scoring rate, but was eventually undone by a brilliant Naveen delivery, which trapped the Aussie all-rounder in front of the stumps.
Azmatullah Omarzai's double strike soon reduced Australia from 49/2 to 49/4 in the ninth over.
Marnus Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell were the only hope for Australia to survive the game. The duo added 20 run partnership for the fifth wicket. Maxwell and Pat Cummins managed to hold on over the next few overs, even as Afghanistan spinners continued to dominate.
Maxwell then lifted the pace of the innings, with a set of attacking shots. Taking on the Afghanistan spinners, he smashed 10 fours and three sixes on the way to his century. Almost single-handedly, he took Australia from 98/7 at the end of the 20-over mark, to 194/7 at the end of the 34th.
Post this; things were not easy for Maxwell as he also started to feel cramps in his legs. But, like a warrior, he kept fighting and took his team to the victory in 47th over.
Playing XIs
Australia: Travis Head, David Warner, Mitch Marsh, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Afghanistan squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Ikram Alikhil (wk), Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Naveen-ul-Haq, Noor Ahmad
