MUMBAI – Australia’s Glenn Maxwell struck a magnificent 201 not out to save his country from a humiliating defeat at the hands of Afghanistan in the 39th match of the ongoing ICC World Cup 2023 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday.
As Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first, they set a 292-run target for Australia in 50 overs at the loss of five wickets. Chasing the target, Australia lost four wickets for less than 50 runs. Then Australian batter Glenn Maxwell faced the Afghan bowlers defiantly until his team won the match. He scored 201 runs not out in 128 balls with the help of 21 fours and 10 sixes.
Glenn Maxwell and Pat Cummins’ 175-run partnership is Australia’s highest for the eighth wicket in ODIs, breaking the record of 119-run partnership between Shane Warne and Paul Reiffel.
Earlier, a splendid century by Ibrahim Zadran helped Afghanistan post a reasonable target of 292 runs for Australia in a crucial match of the ICC World Cup 2023.
Zardan smashed unbeaten 129 while a hefty charge by the lower-order helped Afghanistan get to their highest Cricket World Cup score.
Rahmat Shah made 30 while Rashid Khan scored unbeaten 35 as Afghanistan made 291 in complete 50 overs.
The two sides will face off in 39th game of the ongoing ODI World Cup in Mumbai, and Tuesday’s encounter is touted to be an exciting game as both squads will push to win this one to keep their qualification hopes alive for the semifinals.
So far, Hashmatullah-led Afghanistan have come up strong and they are coming into the contest with wins against Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the Netherlands.
Australia on the other hand bounced back after facing two early blows. Kangaroos have so far bagged five games in a row to stand behind India and South Africa. Today’s win for them will take them to the semifinals.
If we look back, Cummins-led squad faced Afghanistan three times in ODI cricket and have won all three matches.
World Cup 2023: Here s all the records made in Pakistan vs Sri Lanka thriller
Australia vs Afghanistan Squads
Australia: Travis Head, David Warner, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis(w), Cameron Green, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins(c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Sean Abbott, Alex Carey.
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil(w), Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Noor Ahmad, Najibullah Zadran, Naveen-ul-Haq, Abdul Rahman, Riaz Hassan.
