Maxie destroys Afghan !!

I have watched some very good ODI innings – Viv Richards 189* - and many two hundreds made in ODI but this would rank on top of almost all of them !  Can the body behave differently – there was   visceral struggle Maxwell had with his body to bat without moving his feet until some of his cramping subsided. His eyes and hands seemingly were something else.

 

Afghanistan had almost sent Australia packing and placed their foot into the qualifiers -  they relied  on their young opening pair, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran. The two 21-year-olds are good - Gurbaz is the natural aggressor and tends to score quicker than Ibrahim, who seems to have moulded his one-day game on the foundations of his Test game,  today he became the first Afghan to score a century in a World cup game. 

As they amassed 291 helped by a cameo from Rashid Khan, Australia were almost out of the contest as they were 7 down with just 91 runs on the board -  Glenn Maxwell played a sensational knock to keep the five-time champions in the game. 

The 9^th over Azmatullah, after bowling a maiden over castled Warner with his first delivery – knocking off the off-stump of David Warner.   Next ball Josh Inglis did nothing as the ball moved took the outside and Ibrahim completed the rest at first slip.   In walked Maxwell under pressure to save a hat-trick ad was almost out.  The outside edge did not carry to the keeper.  Aussies were 49/4 at this stage; soon became 69/5 (Labuschagne); 87/6 (Stoinis) & 91/7 when Starc got out to Rashid Khan at 18.3  - it was seemingly all over as Ikra made a good catch  

 

Only Glenn Maxwell had other ideas as he swung, hoisted, reverse-swept and bludgeoned Afghan attack taking Aussies to an improbable win from there !! Australia won by 3 wickets with 19 balls to spare.  The man – Glenn Maxwell  made 201* off a mere 128 balls with 21 fours and 10 sixers at an incredible strike rate of 157.03.  

 

Maxie who sealed the victory with a huge six taking him to 200 was fighting cramps and was struggling to move his foot even. In that chase of 292 – his partner made unbeaten 12 off 68 in the partnership of 200+ for the 8^th wicket.  

Afghanistan's Mujeeb Ur Rahman dropped  a simple chance when  Glenn Maxwell was on 33 – he has dropped the World Cup – endangered Afghan’s chance and is the catalyst for Aussie’s fling to lift the WC 2023.

 
Incredibly great innings Maxie !!
 
With regards – S Sampathkumar
7.11.2023