Australia in Semifinal – Maxwell’s double century propels Australia to a three-wicket victory over AFG

Australia triumphs over Afghanistan by securing a three-wicket victory with a stunning performance by Glenn Maxwell, who delivered an unbeaten double century in an intense ICC World Cup match held at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on November 7th. Despite losing seven quick wickets while chasing a target of 292 runs, Maxwell’s incredible innings led Australia to their triumph.

During their chase, Australia encountered a quick succession of dismissals including Travis Head, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Marcus Stoinis, and Mitchell Starc at the hands of the Afghan bowlers. However, Glenn Maxwell (201*), despite facing a leg sprain, not only sustained the run-rate with a flurry of boundaries and sixes but also achieved a double century in just 128 balls (comprising twenty-one 4s and ten 6s), a historic feat for an Australian in an ODI match.

Supported by skipper Pat Cummins, who remained unbeaten, Maxwell’s explosive batting propelled Australia towards victory. In the 47th over, Maxwell’s aggressive hitting, including consecutive massive sixes, secured the required runs and his double century, sealing the win for Australia.

Naveen-ul-Haq, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Rashid Khan took two wickets each for Afghanistan, while Maxwell was rightfully awarded the ‘Player of the Match’.

This victory placed Australia in the third position on the points table with 12 points in 8 matches, and Afghanistan slipped to the sixth position with 8 points. Notably, Ibrahim Zadran became the first Afghanistan player to achieve a World Cup hundred, leading his team to a total of 291 for five against Australia.

Both teams exhibited remarkable performances, setting the stage for an intense battle, with Australia aiming for a spot in the last four from their remaining matches against Afghanistan and Bangladesh. On the other hand, Afghanistan, with victories over prominent teams, including England, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the Netherlands, is striving to secure their place in the semi-finals with upcoming matches against Australia and South Africa.