Maxwell’s unbeaten 201 powers Aussies into WC semis

KABUL (Pajhwok): Glenn Maxwell hit the first double hundred of the 2023 ODI World Cup to power Australia to a three-wicket win over Afghanistan at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi won the toss and elected to bat. Ibrahim Zadran became the first Afghan batter to score a hundred at the World Cup as Afghanistan posted a competitive total of 29, according to the Indian Express.

Earlier in the day, Afghanistan were off to a solid start, courtesy of Ibrahim Zadran and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The batters didn’t give many chances to Australia and maintained a healthy run rate.

Australia found a breakthrough when Gurbaz played an unusually aggressive shot off Josh Hazlewood and gifted a catch to Mitchell Starc.

A splendid century from Ibrahim Zadran (129*), sturdy knocks from middle-order batters, and a hefty charge by the lower-order helped Afghanistan get to their highest World Cup score.

Defending 292, Afghanistan made early inroads, starting with Naveen-ul-Haq’s strike in the very first over. He got Travis Head to nick one behind the wicket, a post on the ICC Website read.

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.

Australia’s effort now heavily depended on Marnus Labuschagne and Maxwell. The duo added 20 runs for the fifth wicket before the former was run out as a result of a splendid effort by Rahmat Shah.

Rashid Khan arrived in the 15th over and took no time to get into the act. His two wickets supplemented the early damage and saw to it that Australia’s innings sunk even further.

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 spinners, he smashed 10 fours and three sixes on the way to his century.

Almost single-handedly, he took Australia from 91/7 at the end of the 20-over mark, to 194/7 at the end of the 34th.

An astonishing double century from Maxwell (201*) helped Australia qualify for the semi-finals at the mega tournament.

Maxwell was suffering cramps in the latter stages of his innings but fought his way through to stay at the crease and club a double ton that is now the highest individual score in a World Cup chase.

sa/mud