Glenn Maxwell fought through cramps to smash an unbeaten 201 off 128 balls, single-handedly guiding Australia to an improbable three-wicket win over Afghanistan in a World Cup match on Tuesday and sealing the team’s spot in the semifinals. 

Afghanistan appeared set for a famous victory against five-time champions Australia at the floodlit Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, reducing them to 91 for seven wickets after setting them a victory target of 292. 

But the Afghans then watched in disbelief as Maxwell launched an extraordinary counterattack. With captain Pat Cummins for company, Maxwell took Australia past Afghanistan’s total of 291 for five wickets with 19 balls to spare. 

The right-handed batsman suffered cramps after going past his fourth hundred in the 50-over format but laboured on, cutting down on running between the wickets to manage the pain and relying more on big hits. 

Maxwell hit 21 fours and 10 sixes during his knock — many of them on one leg. His last six sealed the victory and brought up his double century. 

“Horrific, I feel shocking,” said Maxwell. “It was quite hot when we were fielding, I haven’t done a whole lot of high-intensity exercise in the heat. It got a hold of me today, I was lucky to stick it out until the end.” 

Cummins was unbeaten on 12 from 68 balls but, more importantly, added 202 for the unbroken eighth-wicket partnership. 

Afghanistan held numerous meetings on the ground but were unable to find a way to dislodge Maxwell, who was dropped on 33 by Mujeeb Ur Rahman off Noor Ahmad’s bowling. 

Maxwell was also adjudged out leg before wicket in the same over against Noor but the batsman successfully overturned the umpire’s decision on appeal. 

“Really disappointed. Cricket is a funny game, it was unbelievable,” Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi said. 

“We were in the game. Our bowlers started really well; we dropped chances for the eighth wicket. Maxwell doesn’t stop, I have to give credit to him.” 

Afghanistan seamers Naveen-ul-Haq and Azmatullah Omarzai struck early blows with the ball to reduce Australia to 49-4 after opening batsman Ibrahim Zadran’s maiden World Cup hundred helped Afghanistan post a competitive total. 

With Steve Smith missing from the side due to a bout of vertigo, Australia did not seem to have the batting depth to chase down the target and Rashid Khan’s two quick strikes seemed to have all but sealed the match for Afghanistan. 

The victory took Australia to 12 points. They became the third team to reach the semifinals, with India and South Africa having already booked their spots. 

Zadran anchored the Afghan innings earlier with an unbeaten 129 from 143 balls after the South Asian side won the toss and elected to bat. The 21-year-old Zadran’s fifth hundred in the 50-overs format was studded with eight fours and three sixes. 

All-rounder Rashid smashed an unbeaten 35 off 18 balls with three sixes and two fours to provide Afghanistan with some quick runs towards the end. 

Glenn Maxwell of Australia plays a shot as Ikram Alikhil of Afghanistan keeps during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup India 2023 between Australia and Afghanistan at Wankhede Stadium on 7 November 2023 in Mumbai, India. (Photo: Robert Cianflone / Getty Images)

‘Greatest ODI innings’ 

Cummins said he had witnessed the greatest innings in 50-over cricket.  

“I think that’s the greatest ODI innings,” a beaming Cummins told reporters. 

“We’re just chatting about it, all the players, and we’ve decided it’s one of those days where you just go, ‘I was there in the stadium the day Glenn Maxwell chased down that total by himself’. 

“It’s just a one-man show. It’s just like, it looks so easy,” Cummins said. 

“He still can’t move [because of cramp] and still manages to hit a six [over] the third man with reverse — he’s a freak, he hits into different areas, again, he makes it look so easy. And when you’re up against someone like that as a bowler, you just, you don’t have many options.” 

Cummins said improving the net run rate was top of his mind when he walked out to join Maxwell at the crease and it was not until the final 20 minutes that he actually believed that Australia could win. 

“When I went out there, I thought if we can somehow scratch the 200, our net run rate should be pretty good for the semis,” he said. “When Maxi got his 100, I kind of thought, ‘Wow, we’re within 120 or something’. 

“And then I still thought, ‘No way.’ So, I reckon it wasn’t until the spinners were just about done and there was maybe 40 off 40 [balls] or something where I thought, ‘Okay, even if Maxie gets out here, I reckon the other guys can get it done.’” DM